Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2021
134. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach if the roll-out will be expedited of an enhanced media campaign and or public health messaging in respect of ventilation as a mitigation measure for Covid-19. [58252/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
For example, the current #ProtectOurProgress campaign from the Government Information Service (GIS) which is running on the MerrionStreet.ie social channels emphasises the importance of fresh air. In addition, the most recent national and local press and radio campaign conducted by GIS (which ran over 10 days from 19th October 2021) referred to the importance of well-ventilated indoor spaces.
Ventilation is also embedded as a key measure in the current #LayerUp campaign from the Department of Health. As part of this campaign, the Department of Health have updated and refreshed the public health COVID-19 signage and this collateral has been disseminated widely to Government Departments, agencies and stakeholders for public display.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) have a range of multi-channel COVID-19 communications campaigns ongoing, covering both COVID-19 Protection and COVID-19 Vaccines. The COVID-19 Protection campaign features strong visual reminders of the behaviours that prevent COVID-19’s spread and is live on TV, digital video and social media. The first advert is live at the moment and covers wearing a mask, cleaning hands and giving space. The HSE is developing a second TV advert as part of this campaign which will focus on ventilation, the COVID pass and other measures. This is due to be complete in the coming weeks.
In mid-May of this year, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment highlighted the importance of both natural and mechanical ventilation as part of the broader Work Safely social media campaign on Twitter and LinkedIn.
The social media messages, which included a short video and images, stressed the importance of ventilation as a method for both employers and employees to work safely. The social media messages also highlighted the ventilation advice within the Work Safely Protocol.
The Department ran a paid advertising campaign on Facebook and Instagram promoting Work Safely from June to September 2021 and an organic campaign is ongoing on Twitter and LinkedIn platforms.
The Department also engaged directly with representative bodies on ventilation, circulating information posters for employers and employees, including a ventilation dos and don’ts poster. In addition, the Department promoted each updating of the Work Safe Protocol, including the ventilation section within, and also promoted a new Health and Safety Authority ventilation checklist.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has developed guidance for youth services in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Guidance for Youth Work Organisations references the significance of ventilation and how it will remain a core component of our COVID-19 response. The Department hosts a Youth Sector COVID-19 Oversight Group where key stakeholders meet with the Department to discuss the Guidance. The use of ventilation was discussed and emphasised at these meetings. In June 2021 the Department launched a capital programme for Early Learning and Care and School-Aged Childcare services which provided €4.6 million in funding for services to enhance their outdoor facilities, improve ventilation indoors and purchase Carbon Dioxide (CO2) monitors. The purpose of the capital programme was to support infection control by supporting services to increase the time children spent outdoors, and to improve ventilation in services when the children were indoors.
The Department of Education has issued clear and practical guidance for schools on the steps to be taken by all schools to manage ventilation levels.
Managing 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 2021, updating guidance previously issued, 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 gov.ie.
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 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. 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. In excess of 35,400 monitors were delivered to primary (18,262) and post-primary (17,215) schools nationwide at a cost of circa €4 million.
A dedicated team has been established in the Department to support schools that may have concerns about ventilation. Officers are also available to contact schools where required, walking through the steps the schools should take to deploy good ventilation practices, etc. Where it is not possible for a school to access the expertise of an engineer or architect, and where necessary, a technical assessment to assist the school can be facilitated through the Department.
Schools that identify inadequate ventilation in a room can utilise their minor work grant (for minor improvements) or apply for emergency works grant assistance to address ventilation enhancements on a permanent basis.
Where the above measures have been undertaken, and poor ventilation continues to exist in a particular room/area, air cleaners may be considered as an additional measure in conjunction with other methods of ventilation that are available. There is no one solution that fits all scenarios, each application requires bespoke analysis and selection of the appropriate unit(s) matched to the specific room size and volume. If, following consultation with a supplier a school feels that its individual space may require specific technical specialist advice then the assistance of a Chartered Engineer or Registered Architect can be sought.
The Department continues to advise schools on these measures through guidance issued to all schools, regular meetings with management bodies and the education partners and support of individual schools through its COVID-19 helpline for schools.
Through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, the Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the Commercial Entertainment Capital Grant Scheme provided grants for capital projects and works to address challenges associated with COVID-19 and that supported the recovery of the commercial creative, cultural, entertainment and events sector. Funding up to €25,000 was offered to facilitate capital works that assisted organisations in reopening and continue to operate safely for staff and audiences. The list of types of expenditure that was eligible for funding included the installation or modification of ventilation systems.
Transport operators have added signage on the windows of vehicles where windows can be opened asking customers to leave them open.
Lastly, it should be noted that the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has updated and published its guidance on non-healthcare building ventilation as recently as 18th November 2021.
