Every classroom in Ireland should receive air filters as part of a New Year resolution to bolster safety in schools, a primary principal has said.
Lisa Callanan said applying for minor works grants to secure HEPA filters is cumbersome for under-pressure schools already struggling to keep a lid on Covid-19 cases.
The principal of Rathbeggan national school in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, says using the portable systems could also end uncertainty over whether schools will be allowed to re-open after the Christmas break.
Nine machines have been installed by Irish company Mia Air in her 173-pupil school, removing the constant need to leave windows and doors open.
"What we are able to do now is close more windows and doors as the filters run and open everything again when the children are on outside breaks to let fresh air through the building," she said.
"It is another preventative measure and with case numbers on the rise with the new variant, we feel we are doing extra in the hope of keeping everyone safe and the school open."
Opening windows for ventilation at the coldest point of the year, particularly in a 61-year-old school such as Rathbeggan, is "not ideal" for teaching or learning, she said.
"Schools are incredibly busy places.
"Ideally, HEPA 14 filters should arrive in every classroom in the country once assessments are made on which ones suit best; that would make it crystal clear that every school would have that extra layer of protection.
"Introducing them at an earlier juncture, rather than almost two years later, would have been more effective."
She does not believe changes should be made to school Christmas holidays given the disruption to education so far.
"The best thing is to keep the natural school calendar as it is, breaking on December 22 and returning on January 6."
Over 20,000 Covid-19 cases were recorded in children last week.
20,360 cases were recorded in those aged under 18.
According to the data, only 230 of these cases were linked to schools.
There were 37 new school outbreaks in 'week 49', the HPSC say.
