Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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169. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason children in primary schools are not wearing masks. [57228/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has been guided by Public Health as to the mitigation measures needed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in our schools. The aim of all of the Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures that have been put in place for schools is to support schools to operate safely and prevent the introduction of Covid-19 and also the onward of transmission of Covid-19 among the school community. These measures protect pupils, their parents and school staff and are very effective when adhered to.

At the request of NPHET, the Health Information and Quality Authority examined whether there should a reduction in the minimum age for the wearing of face masks. In its report published on 20 September, it has recommended that there should be no reduction in the minimum age with respect to the use of face masks. It is intended that this recommendation would be kept under review by HIQA.