Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1149. To ask the Minister for Health the official public health advice in respect of ventilation in domestic home settings, school settings, hospitality settings and workplace settings. [53383/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Building ventilation has remained one element of the broader infection prevention and control (IPC) response over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The appreciation of the role of ventilation has evolved in the context of developing experience and evidence. Guidance, training, and measures implemented reflect this learning.

The NPHET for COVID-19 regards ventilation as an important IPC measure. This has been reflected in the NPHET’s work over the course of the pandemic.

In its most recent advice of 18 October, the NPHET emphasised the importance of the continuation of non-pharmaceutical interventions currently in place across sectors such as the use of face masks as appropriate, improved ventilation in closed spaces and physical distancing measures until February 2022. The NPHET recommended that sector specific guidance, protocols and communications be reviewed and strengthened where necessary. The NPHET's letter is available to read here:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/ba4aa0-letters-from-the-cmo-to-the-minister-for-health/.

It is the responsibility of individual Government departments to provide sector-specific COVID-19 advice on ventilation as per their respective remits. In this regard, the Deputy’s attention is drawn to the large volume of published guidance across a number of sectors, cited below. If additional information on the role of ventilation as part of the IPC guidance being applied within a specific sector is required, the Deputy is advised to contact the relevant Government department/agency with responsibility for developing said guidance.

HSE guidance for the General Public on COVID-19 transmission

Guidance for the general public on how they can protect themselves and others from spreading COVID-19 in their daily lives, including in domestic settings, is available on the HSE website. This guidance highlights that crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation can sometimes result in droplets containing the virus spreading over long distances, and points to the practical steps that all individuals can take to mitigate the risk of this happening. This includes meeting outdoors rather than indoors where possible, avoiding crowded or poorly ventilated places, and opening windows, doors, and vents to the greatest extent possible if meeting people indoors. The HSE’s guidance is available in full here: www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/preventing-the-spread/how-coronavirus-spread/.

Education sector:

- Education Guidance - Health Protection Surveillance Centre (hpsc.ie)

- www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/.

Workplaces, Businesses (including hospitality), Retails Settings, and Shopping Centres:

- A revised Work Safely Protocol (previously the Return to Work Protocol) was published on 16 September as a collaborative effort between employers and employees, which was led by the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Health, with the support of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and with significant input by public health from the Health Service Executive (HSE). The revised Protocol incorporates the current advice on the Public Health measures needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community and workplaces including enhanced detail on ventilation: www.gov.ie/en/publication/22829a-return-to-work-safely-protocol/.

- The Health and Safety Authority has also published checklists, including one on the topic of ventilation, to support employers preparing for the return of employees to the workplace: www.hsa.ie/eng/topics/covid-19_coronavirus_information_and_resources/

- The National Standards Authority of Ireland has also published workplace, shopping centre, and retail protection and improvement guides, About our COVID-19 Resources | NSAI

- HPSC COVID-19 has published “COVID-19 Guidance for Hospitality Businesses V1.8 01.10.2021”Hospitality guidance.pdf (hpsc.ie)

- Fáilte Ireland Operational Guidelines | Business Supports | COVID-19 Support Hub | Fáilte Ireland (failteireland.ie)

Sport:

- Sport Ireland has published a return to sport guidance note with information on ventilation: Return to Sport and Physical Activity | Sport Ireland

The Arts:

- The Arts Council has published a guidance note for the Arts Sector: Covid - 19 Guidance for the Arts Sector (artscouncil.ie)

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1150. To ask the Minister for Health the recommended standard for face masks for use by the public; and the steps being taken to publicise this. [53384/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the evidence relating to COVID-19, and the decisions necessary to protect everybody living in Ireland from its effects is constantly evolving. The public health advice relating to COVID-19, including face masks, is kept under continuing review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), by my department and by the Government. The measures in place and the public health advice have been adapted to the changing circumstances and this will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.

The current advice regarding face coverings, including the circumstances in which it is mandatory to wear a face covering, is available at: www.gov.ie/facecoverings/.

Guidance on type and standard of face mask is available on the HSE website at Types of face coverings, masks and visors - HSE.ie.

Guidance on how and where to wear face coverings is also available on the HSE website at Face masks: when and how to wear one - HSE.ie.

To inform national efforts in response to COVID-19, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is developing Health Technology Assessment evidence summaries to answer specific research questions posed by the NPHET. HIQA evidence summaries on various topics, including on the use of face masks in the community is available at: www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/health-technology-assessments.

My Department and the Government has invested in significant public health campaigns to ensure that all members of the community are aware of all public health guidelines relating to COVID 19 including face masks.