Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021
487. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classrooms are included in the total number of classrooms for primary schools when determining the allocation of CO2 monitors. [46793/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraManaging ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19.
A copy of the guidance is published on the Gov.ie website.
The over-arching approach in the guidance is for schools to have windows open as fully as possible when classrooms are not in use and partially open when classrooms are in use.
The guidance outlines that Carbon Dioxide (CO2) monitors can play a part in providing a useful general indication that areas/rooms may not be adequately ventilated. They can enable occupants to become familiar with the impacts of activities, outdoor weather and window openings on levels of good ventilation.
Deliveries of CO2 monitors to schools commenced in the third week of August. In total, it involves over 35,000 CO2 monitors being distributed to primary and post-primary schools. 25,000 CO2 monitors have been distributed to schools to date, meaning that CO2 monitors have been delivered to each school in the country. The monitors are portable, simple to use, and will give a digital reading.
96% of primary schools (including all special schools) have received their full allocation of CO2 monitors. Ten CO2 monitors have been provided to schools at post-primary level with the balance of their allocation expected to be distributed in October
My Department arranged for the provision of a number of portable CO2 monitors based on the size of each school. The provision of portable CO2 monitors provides schools with the flexibility to focus their use to those rooms where most beneficial to inform strategies for optimising ventilation in the school.
