A Cavan councillor has called on the Education Minister to put HEPA filters into all classrooms.
Last month, over €1.2 million was made available to Co Cavan schools as part of a nationwide spend of €62 million for once-off Covid-19 minor works.
The funding allows for improvements like the purchase of HEPA air filters, but a procurement process through which the school must apply, has been put in place.
Councillor Brendan Fay says the filters are needed in every classroom but he feels the procurement process is so laborious, it may put teachers off applying in the first instance.
“Teachers are trying to teach, they are trying to keep our kids safe, they are trying to do everything,” added Cllr Faye.
“Now they are being asked to employ a chartered engineer or registered architect to procure an application for HEPA filters…and I just feel this is in the hope that they won’t do it.
“We have to keep our teachers and students safe.”
He went on to say that thousands of students across the country would soon begin preparation for State exams and there was enough concern around that without everyone worrying about having to sit in “freezing cold” classrooms.
“It’s a sad indictment of where we are if school communities are wearing hats and coats in their classrooms.
“The Department of Education needs to roll out the HEPA filters in every school; teachers are there to teach and students are there to learn - they shouldn’t have to do it.”
He added that "recommendations to open windows to improve air flow simply do not work during Covid" and that it "beggars belief that the filters are not in place two years into the pandemic".
