The Taoiseach says the Government will provide resources to put HEPA air filters in classrooms.
But Micheál Martin says they may not be needed in every classroom, and government data questions the real world application of such filters.
Opposition parties have called for the filters in order to reduce Covid transmission in schools.
Martin says the public health advice has been fresh air (through windows being open) is the way to go
Says schools can buy HEPA filters if they wish
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) December 7, 2021
Micheál Martin says they will be provided in certain situations:
"We're not against HEPA filters. We're for, and provide resouces for them.
"There's 50,000 classrooms across the country...the Minister and the Department will adopt a targetted approach."
However, opposition politicians say the Government has moved to slow to bring them in.
"You're not doing it on air quality", said People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett.
"When you go into a hospital for surgery - they filtrate the air in the theatre where they do the operation.
"To precisely prevent the transmission of infection in a theatre. Why do you think they do that? Because, it works!"
