AQW 40995/22-27

Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Foyle

Tabled Date: 19/02/2026
Answered On Date: 26/02/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) any progress made by his Department to proactively tackle, and improve, air quality in schools; and (ii) whether he will consider providing air purifiers for schools.

Answer:

Both the Education Authority (EA) and my Department rely on the expert advice of the Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) when considering matters such as ventilation and the potential role of air filtration systems. The EA issued ventilation guidance to schools in December 2021. Although this guidance was developed as part of the Covid-19 response, it is fundamentally about improving ventilation and remains relevant to school settings.

Considerable work has been taken forward to ensure that windows in schools can open unrestricted to allow for natural ventilation. In addition, all schools were provided with carbon dioxide monitors to identify classrooms or other areas potentially subject to poor ventilation.

My Department continues to face significant financial pressures, and the distribution and installation of air purifiers to all school settings is currently not under consideration. If a school considers it has an issue with ventilation, it should contact the EA in the first instance to determine whether any action is necessary, other than local action by the school. The priority remains to keep schools open and safe and that the EA complies with relevant statutory requirements in relation to the safety of school premises.