Local TD raises concerns about schools reopening

A Dublin TD has raised concerns about the re-opening of schools without additional safety measures.

With pupils and teachers returning to schools this week, while Covid infections still remain high, People Before Profit TD for Dublin Mid-West Gino Kenny said steps must be taken to ensure safety.

“A safe return to school will require the return of the contact tracing system, HEPA-filter systems in every classroom and adequate staffing levels,” Deputy Kenny said.

“Schools that have high levels of absence from staff due to covid clearly cannot open safely.

“The Government has put profit before public health throughout this pandemic.

“Two years into the pandemic our ICU capacity remains among the lowest in Europe and instead of increasing our contract tracing capacities, they have reduced them.

“There is an urgent need for free Covid-19 antigen tests, along with the ramping up of the PCR testing system.

“Workers need to know that they are protected financially and legally against being forced back to work while they have the virus. In the absence of a PCR test, employers must recognise the Antigen test results and ensure that workers are adequately paid to allow them to isolate.

“Figures from before Christmas showed that Lucan had one of the highest incidence rates in Dublin with 1920.9 cases per 100 000.

“Clondalkin had an incidence rate of 1592.9 and Palmerstown-Fonthill 1643.2, all above the national average.

“The incidence is likely to be much higher at this time considering the large case numbers in the past two weeks.”