Dáil debates
Tuesday, 1 December 2020
Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions
School Equipment
5:35 pm
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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25. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if specific, revised guidance will be provided on ventilation in the winter months; and if she will be providing additional funding to schools for the purchase of air monitoring systems and to make up for additional heating costs. [39970/20]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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It has become very clear from the science in recent months that ventilation is one of the key factors in tackling Covid-19. At this time of year, with the Irish winter, the cold is becoming very significant. That is not as much of an issue for some modern schools and school buildings as it is for schools with older buildings. Principals are having to make difficult choices with limited or in some instances no guidance on how to manage this matter. It puts pressure on heating bills and leads to tough decisions about how to communicate to parents the guidance to give their children.
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Practical steps for the deployment of good ventilation practices were provided to the school system in August, in the context of reopening for September 2020. Contrary to what the Deputy said, this guidance has recently been reviewed and was circulated to the education partners. The updated guidance has now been published.
As regards good ventilation practices in schools, it is important, particularly as we get further into winter, that we achieve an appropriate balance between good ventilation and comfort. The overall approach for schools should be to have windows open as fully as possible when classrooms are not in use, for example, during break times, lunchtime and at the end of each school day, and partially open when classrooms are in use to achieve appropriate airflow. It is worth noting that windows do not need to be open as wide in windy or colder weather in order to achieve the same level of airflow into the classroom. This will assist in managing comfort levels in classrooms, including those in prefabricated accommodation, during periods of colder weather.
As part of managing comfort levels in classrooms, schools should check that their heating systems are set at the recommended manufacturer's guidance levels to maximise the heat available to the school. In addition, heating should operate for extended periods during colder weather to counteract, as best as possible, the impact of windows being open in order to maintain an appropriate balance between ventilation and comfort levels.
My Department has reviewed the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HPSC, guidance recommending that consideration be given to installing indoor air quality monitors in classrooms. The purpose of a monitor in this context is to assist in determining when windows should be opened. It should be noted that an air monitor would not increase the air temperature in a classroom. As reflected in the updated guidance, my Department has concluded that it will likely be necessary for windows to be open at the frequency I outlined earlier to ensure appropriate levels of ventilation in classrooms, irrespective of whether the opening of windows is prompted by an indoor air quality monitor, which is a reactive approach, or through the proactive approach outlined in the guidance. While this matter, as well as supporting data, will be kept under review, the Department does not consider it necessary for schools to install such monitors in classrooms where the practical steps outlined in the updated guidance are applied. However, it is a matter for individual schools to consider whether they wish to put in place mechanisms of this nature.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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That is an interesting reply and there is much in it to consider. I would make one point, of which I am sure the Minister is very aware as principals certainly raise it with me. I am aware of the updated guidance but it is still the case that windows must be open, although the guidance states the times and extent to which that should be done. Older buildings, examples of which the Minister can think herself, such as those in Christian Brothers schools, were built in the 1950s and 1960s and were not designed for these situations, even if they were renovated. Children sit next to the window in coats and with hot water bottles and so on. It is a real dilemma for principals, even in the current context. Air monitoring is essential. It would assist in keeping budgets down by ensuring schools strike the right balance between windows being open and heating. It would ensure windows were not open unnecessarily and that schools get that balance right based on the information available. It sounds like the Minister is not ruling air monitors out. I welcome that but will she state if that is the case? If I am right about that I welcome it, but it is a pity given that the ideal opportunity to install such monitors is over the Christmas break, when schools will be closed in any event. If this is something the Department is going to do, the ideal avenue and space in which to do it is coming up.
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the Deputy's point. In the interest of balance and proper context, no building has been built for a Covid-19 environment. This issue is not unique to what is happening in the school environment. It is happening in every building of which we are aware. I again emphasise that air monitors do not increase the air temperature in a room. They merely monitor when one should open or close a window. Significant practical guidance has been given to schools around measures of that nature, such as opening windows before classes commence, during break times, lunchtimes, in the evenings, and so on. I appreciate that such measures are reliant on an abundance of practical common sense and practicality but, in my experience, there is an abundance of that in schools as is. Schools have the freedom to use the minor works grant to address this issue but as I have said to the Deputy, I will keep everything under review. I will do that constantly for anything as regards education.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister said that an air monitor does not increase the temperature of a room but only shows when the windows need to be open. By extension, it also shows when the windows do not need to be open, which would be very useful to many schools that are trying to manage the situation and ensure the welfare of the children in their care, by protecting them from Covid and other types of illness. I will take it from her answer that the Minister is not ruling such measures out but I ask her to go back to the HPSC and to continue to examine this. Air monitors would be of value and the perfect opportunity is there over the Christmas break for people to go into the schools and install them.
I have raised my final point with the Minister previously. It seems inevitable that additional money will be required for the ordinary school budget and the capitation grant early in the new year. Heating costs are going up and so are refuse costs, due to PPE, wipes, sanitiser and so on. Fundraising has inevitably fallen, and there is also the cost of room hire to consider. Will additional funding and capitation be provided to schools within this school year and if so, when?
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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To go back to the air monitors, I am very confident of the practicality that exists in every classroom and I am confident about how ventilation is being operated by the school community. I reiterate that this issue is being dealt with by many bodies and many buildings have to cope with similar situations at present.
As the Deputy will be aware, the capitation grant increased by 2.5% in the budget for 2020-21, which is on top of a 5% increase in the previous year. I intend, if at all possible, to continue the trajectory of that increase going forward. That is important. Equally, substantial funding has gone into schools to address measures of a Covid-19 nature. That has helped schools considerably to do what needs to be done.