Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:375. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of installing an air monitor in every school classroom. [33166/21]
View answerTuesday, 22 June 2021
Questions (375)
Written answers
The importance of good ventilation is an increasing and important aspect of public health advice on managing Covid-19 risks and this led to the establishment of an Expert Group by the Department of Health.
A sub-group of the main Expert Group focussed exclusively on the issue of improving and monitoring ventilation in schools.
This report formed the based for the most recent updating of the ventilation guidance for schools and included recommendations in relation to strengthening the message about the importance of good ventilation, the use of CO2 monitors and, where considered necessary, air cleaners.
A link to the published guidance and the associated background information is available at:
- www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/.
- www.gov.ie/ga/foilsiuchan/aerala-i-scoileanna/.
The use of CO2 monitors can provide a useful general indication that areas/rooms within a building may not be adequately ventilated and can enable occupants to become familiar with the impact that activities, outdoor weather and window openings have on levels of good ventilation within a room. This information can be used to inform strategies for improving ventilation and in that regard the Department of Education has funded the provision of a number of portable CO2 monitors for schools at an estimated overall cost of circa €4 million. The portable units can facilitate measurements in a wide range of locations in schools.