Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
2248. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the guidance on ventilation provided to the hospitality industry in respect of mitigating the spread of Covid-19 in their premises, when this was last updated; the basis of this guidance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37155/21]
View answerIt is the responsibility of individual Government Departments to provide sector-specific COVID-19 advice on ventilation as per their respective remits. In this instance the provision of guidance for the hospitality sector is a matter for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and I suggest that the Deputy direct questions accordingly.
While it remains the responsibility of individual Government Departments to provide sector-specific COVID-19 advice on ventilation, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has published Guidance on Non-Healthcare Building Ventilation during COVID-19, that may be of interest to the Deputy more generally. The Guidance provides broad recommendations and information, based on the literature, for commercial and public buildings that may be used in the development of sector specific guidance: hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/buildingsandfacilitiesguidance/#d.en.20148
The reports of the Expert Group on the Role of Ventilation are also available to support the development of sector specific guidance by other Government departments:
gov.ie/en/publication/aa43c-expert-group-on-the-role-of-ventilation-in-reducing-transmission-of-covid-19/
For convenience I have also provided details of guidance published by other Departments and their agencies, questions related to any of the published guidance below should be directed to the appropriate Government Department:
- Education sector:
- hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/Guidance%20on%20non%20HCbuilding%20ventilation%20during%20COVID-19.pdf
- 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 14th May 2021 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: gov.ie/en/publication/bb7fd-work-safely-protocol/
- nsai.ie/images/uploads/general/NSAI-COVID19-Retail-Guidelines-13012021.pdf
- nsai.ie/images/uploads/general/NSAI-COVID19-Shopping-Centre-Guidelines-13012021.pdf
- Fáilte Ireland: Overview Guidelines to Reopening - failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Overview-Guidelines-to-Re-opening.pdf
- Fáilte Ireland: Guidelines for Reopening Restaurants and Cafes failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Restaurants-and-Cafes.pdf
- Fáilte Ireland: Guidelines for Reopening Hotels and Guesthouses - failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Hotels-and-Guesthouses.pdf
- There is also additional guidance on Gov.ie and on the HSE website which outlines the importance of ventilation in households, this can be found here:
- gov.ie/en/publication/472f64-covid-19-coronavirus-guidance-and-advice/
- www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/how-coronavirus-is-spread.html
