The Government has been accused of “dithering” over plans to introduce antigen testing for school children as part of efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in classrooms.
Social Democrats education spokesman Gary Gannon made the claim as he also called for schools to get air filtration devices.
He said senior Government figures like Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar have spoken of the prospect of rapid antigen tests being used in schools and said the Government has been "dithering" on the issue.
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He said the Social Democrats want their introduction expedited.
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Mr Gannon said: “We need antigen testing happening now, not Christmas. We know that this decision is going to be made so why the delay in doing so?”
He suggested the tests could be carried out by parents and teachers.
He also said: “We got CO2 monitors put into our school late and not enough of them.
“They beep, they go off, we open a window, people get cold, the air doesn’t get cleaned. We need air filtration devices in our schools.”
He said these measures are needed to keep children safe and the schools open.
On Monday the Taoiseach said he expected that antigen tests would be used in “in given areas” within schools “in line with advice from public health” after the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said that antigen testing may suitable in some cases for children.
Mr Martin said that non-Covid respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus are currently more problematic for schoolgoing children than Covid-19 in terms of hospital admissions.
He said anyone showing any signs of symptoms of respiratory illness should not go to school.
On Sunday Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said he expected rapid antigen testing to be used in primary schools before Christmas
Separately, the Social Democrats' co-leader Catherine Murphy said that a phone line for people to report instances of hospitality businesses breaking Covid-19 rules should be set up.
She said this would allow inspectors to focus on businesses that are known to be non-complaint with rules like the need for a vaccine pass, rather than having to go to the majority of places that are fully compliant.
