Danny Healy-Rae Warns on Ventilation Costs for Schools and Businesses
Danny Healy-Rae spoke about proposed workplace and emergency COVID prevention measures, focusing on ventilation systems in schools and the potential impact on small businesses. He said he supports ventilation for schools but pressed for clarity on who will pay and raised concerns about mask rules for young children.
Main concerns
He expressed worry that measures aimed at schools are being extended to private businesses without clear costings. Small employers are already struggling with increased costs, insurance and fuel, and he asked how much ventilation would cost per square foot or square yard.
Funding and inspections
He noted the proposal for health and safety inspectors to take CO2 measurements and said that is acceptable in principle - but stressed the unresolved question of who will foot the bill for installations and upgrades.
Support for school ventilation
He affirmed support for ventilation systems in schools, arguing that open doors and windows and current heating arrangements are not sufficient. He warned that inadequate ventilation could lead to more colds, flu and pneumonia among pupils.
Masking of young children
He criticised the imposition of masks from nine years of age, saying the minister had previously declared schools safe and that the new requirement risks harming children, particularly those with health issues. He called for measures that do not unduly impact pupils' health.
Questions on implementation
He urged authorities to provide detailed costings and a clear plan for funding and implementation so small businesses and schools can comply without undue financial burden. He emphasised the need for practical support rather than just additional requirements.
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Thank you, Chairperson. I am glad of the opportunity to talk about what it is asking in relation to the workplace and the emergency COVID prevention measures. I suppose it is fine to talk about schools and I think the schools, part of it is being used to bring the same regulations into businesses and that is my worry where private businesses and the small employers, they are struggling with every kind of an increase in cost and insurance and fuel to keep workplaces warm and if something like this is to be brought in we need to know the cost of it and how much per square foot or square yard will cost employers to put these measures in place and I see where to provide for health and safety inspectors to take CO2 measurements. I mean that is all fine but who is going to foot the bill? There are so many businesses in trouble at the present time trying just barely to carry on after the long lockdowns that they have endured and they are trying to get going again. But yes, I do support the aspect of these ventilation systems for schools and like has been said, children are called at the present time, Minister. And he did say that schools were safe and now, to top it off, he is insisting that they will have to wear masks from nine years of age on and that is hard on many of the children that maybe have health issues. But we all remember, even the generation before us, they had to bring a side to school to keep the schools warm. Now whatever heating systems are in the schools that don't need that but the doors are open, the windows are open and the children, I mean this is not acceptable. You will have to do something about the ventilation systems in schools and you have to take that on board and ensure that children aren't impacted more and get more flus and colds and pneumonia. So that part of this bill I support but I need more assistance as to what is going to happen and who is going to pay for these ventilation systems in the workplace. So let's take a look.
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