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Education Minister Norma Foley: Schools will be able to use funds flexibly to improve their venues, including purchasing Hepa machines when necessary. Photo: Connor McCabe Photography.
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The government will provide up to 72 million euros for schools and childcare services to improve ventilation as part of efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The Minister of Education Norma Foley announced a small works grant of 62 million euros as part of additional support related to the pandemic.
Schools will be able to use funds flexibly to improve their venues, including purchasing high-efficiency particulate absorption filter (Hepa) machines when deemed necessary.
Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman each announced 10 million euros to improve ventilation in nurseries.
The government has been criticized by opposition parties for school ventilation. Experts often say that this matter has been largely ignored in the state's pandemic response.
Sinn Fein Party leader Mary Lou McDonald (Mary Lou McDonald) told Dáil last week that some children and staff were "frozen in the classroom", with windows open, "trying to ensure their safety" to avoid contracting Covid- 19.
She said that the infection rate among school-aged children has “surged” and “it has been obvious for some time that Hepa filters play an important role in ensuring clean air in schools”.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin stated that funding will be provided to schools that require Hepa filters under "specified circumstances".
Of the funds announced by Ms. Foley, approximately 45 million euros are used for primary and special schools, and 17 million euros are used for secondary.
The school can use the funds for the air filtration system, but it can also be used for the maintenance and small-scale improvement of school buildings and grounds, as well as the purchase of furniture or computers.
Ms. Foley said: "The substantial increase in school funding will enable them to address their minor engineering requirements and, when needed, address small-scale ventilation improvements at the school level as a short-term mitigation measure."
The department issued the latest school guidelines on good ventilation practices in May, and it also provides technical guidance on Hepa filters for schools that believe it is necessary to equip Hepa filters.
With the support announced by Mr. O'Gorman, Hepa filters will also be eligible for purchase. He said that due to staffing pressure caused by Covid-19-related absences, higher education institutions will promote the temporary release of students for childcare services. His department introduced an accelerated procedure to assess the qualifications of students to work in the department.
On Sunday, the state reported 4,667 Covid-19 cases, including four new and worrying variants of Omicron, bringing the total to 10. The Ministry of Health stated that 4,004 Covid-19 cases have been notified on Saturday.
On Sunday morning, 504 Covid-19 patients were hospitalized, of which 109 were in the intensive care unit.
In addition, the British Health and Safety Agency stated that 5 more Omicron cases have been detected in Northern Ireland, bringing the total to 10.
Stormont's Minister of Health Robin Swann responded by announcing the immediate introduction of a walk-in vaccination center, which will provide booster vaccination to anyone 30 years old who has received a second dose of the vaccine at least three months ago.
"Given the scale of the potential threat posed by the Omicron variant, we are taking additional emergency measures to obtain as many booster doses as possible before the end of this month," he said.
The Ministry of Health of Northern Ireland announced on Sunday that three more people have died of Covid-19 and another 1,548 cases have been reported. There are 326 Covid-19 patients in the hospital, 30 of whom are in the intensive care unit.
Starting from Monday, the North’s Covid-19 certification system will have legal effect in the hotel industry, including licensed venues and large-scale events. Customers need to show proof of vaccination, negative lateral flow test result or proof of previous infection to enter. – Additional report PA
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