Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

316. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of CO2 monitors that have been issued to schools since 2021; the number still to be issued; and the total cost of the scheme to date. [4696/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department of Education’s approach on good ventilation in schools, as part of a layered strategy of protective measures to control the spread of the virus, remains fully consistent with the Expert Group recommendations on good practices, the use of portable CO2 monitors, which can provide a useful general indication that areas/ rooms may not be adequately ventilated, and the targeted deployment of HEPA air filter devices where necessary for poorly ventilated areas.

Additionally, the guidance for schools is also fully in line with the most recent guidance on non-healthcare building ventilation during COVID-19, published by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre in January 2022 and general advice on preventing the spread of COVID-19 in non-healthcare settings published by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre in May 2022.

The guidance documents can be accessed here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/

My Department has funded and delivered in excess of 42,500 monitors to schools nationwide at a cost of circa. €4 million. All schools in the free scheme have received their CO2 monitors, furthermore newly built school accommodation now includes CO2 monitors as standard equipment.

The Department of Education also provided support in the context of Covid-19 through the payment of enhanced minor works grants to schools in the free scheme, circa €100 million in 2020 and €32 million in 2021. This funding enabled schools to address both their reconfiguration requirements and to address small-scale ventilation improvements at school level. Primary schools also received standard Minor Works Grant totalling €90 million during this period. Schools that identified inadequate ventilation in a room could utilise their minor works grant (for minor improvements) or apply for emergency works grant assistance to address ventilation enhancements on a permanent basis.