Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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312. To ask the Minister for Health if he will publish the advice he received from AMRIC in relation to HEPA filters in schools. [60959/21]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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313. To ask the Minister for Health if he still maintains his opposition to the use of HEPA filters in schools. [60960/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 313 together.

Ventilation has remained a core element of the broader infection prevention and control (IPC) response over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ventilation should not be seen as a standalone measure, but rather a single component of the overall layered response required to reduce the risk of transmission, and an adjunct to the continued need for adherence to the full range of public health measures.

The importance of ventilation as a measure to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 is embedded in Government communications on the pandemic. This will continue to be the case in upcoming campaigns. Current campaigns include #ProtectOurProgress (GIS) and #LayerUp (DoH).

The NPHET has emphasised the importance of ventilation on numerous occasions throughout the pandemic and most recently in its recommendations of the 11^thNovember. These were as follows:

- there is a significant strengthening of communications targeted at both household settings and relevant sectors, outlining why good ventilation is important and the practical steps that can be taken to improve ventilation;

- an assessment of ventilation forms a core component of inspection of premises under the Work Safely Protocol and other sectoral guidance; and

- further to the publication of revised HPSC guidance on ventilation in non healthcare settings, that renewed consideration be given to the provision of mechanisms/incentives to support businesses/organisations to improve ventilation.

The HSE’s Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Division (AMRIC) was established in early 2019, under the Office of the Chief Clinical Officer. It is led by the AMRIC National Clinical Lead and consists of a core multidisciplinary team with expertise across a range of relevant clinical domains.

The AMRIC provides expert advice on the practical and safe implementation and application of antimicrobial resistance and infection control measures in health and social care settings. In addition, the HSE has advised that all HSE AMRIC guidance promotes adequate ventilation as one of a number of measures to reduce the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

On 18th November 2021, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre published updated “Guidance on non-healthcare building ventilation during COVID-19 V3.0”. This is available at: www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/placesofworshipguidance/Guidance%20on%20non%20HCbuilding%20ventilation%20during%20COVID-19.pdf The HPSC advise that guidance should be read and interpreted in conjunction with all sector specific government departmental advice.

Guidance on the sectoral application of the broad range of public health measures, including ventilation, is a matter for individual sectors. In this regard, the Department of Education has provided detailed information on ventilation within schools, including in relation to air cleaning devices. This is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/.