Written Answers Nos. 275-300
275. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide details on the NCS evaluation; to outline how parents, educators and representative organisations can make contributions to the evaluation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55874/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis year the Department will commence an independent evaluation of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). This evaluation will examine how the Scheme has performed to date and will identify any potential enhancements to further support families and improve affordability.
The process will include extensive stakeholder consultation with parents, providers and representative groups, as well as a comprehensive review of national and international research and best practice. These steps will ensure that any future developments are well-informed, and evidence based.
Further information on the NCS Evaluation and consultation process will be made available in due course.
276. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has received funding in Budget 2026 for a parent and toddler grant initiative in 2026 through the county and city childcare committees; if she can give an indication of when in 2026 the call for this grant might be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55902/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding annually for parent and toddler groups nationwide.
Parent and toddler groups are organised by volunteers on a not-for-profit basis and involve the participation of parents/guardians in the community.
I have secured €350,000 in funding for parent and toddler groups in 2026 to support the work of these groups who provide a valuable opportunity for parents/carers with younger children to meet in the community.
While an exact date for the opening of applications in 2026 has not been finalised, the Department intends to open grant applications in January 2026.
The funding will be allocated to parent and toddler groups nationwide through local City/County Childcare Committees.
277. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if support can be provided to prevent the closure of a creche (details supplied); if she will engage with the creche owners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55911/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the closure of this service owing to fire safety issues. While I regret the closure of any childcare facility, child safety and adherence to fire safety regulations must always be paramount. I am aware there have been extensive discussions between the provider and the owner of the building in relation to the matters outlined.
For your information, the local Childcare Committee is engaging with the service in question and with affected families in order to help identify alternative early learning and childcare places.
There are also supports available through the Department via Case Management. Services in contract for Core Funding are eligible for these supports, however, at this time, the provider in question is not in Core Funding.
278. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures that have been taken to address the huge shortage of childcare places in Milltown, mid and south Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55965/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government.
Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2023/24 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by approximately 19% from the 2021/22 programme year.
The Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its fourth programme year, funds services based on the number of places available.
This provides stability to services, and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service.
The total allocation for Core Funding in 2026/2027 programme year will increase to €436.54 million.
The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is designed to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre– Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care. Core Funding Partner Services could apply for capital funding to physically extend their premises or to construct or purchase new premises. The Scheme will deliver up to 1,500 full-day care places for 1- to 3-year-olds. Budget 2026 also makes provision for a Building Blocks scheme to be put in place.
The Programme for Government commits for the first time to provide capital investment to build or purchase state-owned early learning and childcare facilities, to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists. State ownership of facilities is a very substantial and significant development and offers the potential for much greater scope to influence the nature and volume of provision available and to ensure better alignment with estimated demand. This work will be supported through capital investment under the revised National Development Plan.
279. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures that will be taken to progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the national childcare scheme; if options will be explored to cap costs for larger families, as per the Programme for Government; the timeline for this reduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55982/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to ensuring access to affordable, quality early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC), with an investment of €1.48bn in the 2026 budget. This funding will allow my Department to build on recent progress in the gradual reduction of fees for parents, while also supporting supply and the quality of provision. New caps on maximum fees came into effect in September 2025 for all services in Core Funding, building on a range of enhancements to the National Childcare Scheme and Core Funding in recent years, reducing fees to parents.
Budget 2026 will enable Core Funding to continue to support fee-control measures, and will also allow for growth in the sector. The allocation for Core Funding in 2026 will ensure fees remain at 2021 levels for a majority of providers. As well as this, there will be a new maximum fee cap set to reduce costs for families paying the highest fees across the country. Further details of the new, lower maximum fee caps will be announced in the coming months.
The 2026 allocation for Core Funding will also support implementation of the recently announced Employment Regulation Orders (ERO), which will lead to a 10% increase in the minimum rate of pay for educators from 13 October.
There will also be enhancements in Year 5 of the scheme to improve pay for educators and school age childcare practitioners with implementation of new ERO.
Capital funding is also being made available in 2026 for the sector.
All of this will be detailed in the Action Plan on Accessible, High Quality, Affordable ELC and SAC, which my Department is continuing to develop. The Action Plan will be informed by a broad consultation process and will set out plans to achieve Programme for Government commitments, including the commitment to reduce maximum monthly fees to €200 over the lifetime of the Government.
In relation to costs for larger families, it should be noted that the National Childcare Scheme already provides additional subsidies for larger families through the Multiple Child Deduction. There are two types of subsidies available for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years of age:
• A universal subsidy which is not means tested and provides €2.14 per hour for a maximum of 45 hours per week;
• An income-assessed subsidy which is means tested and is calculated based on a family’s individual circumstances. Rates will vary depending on the level of family income, the child’s age and educational stage, and the number of children in the family.
For income-assessed awards, there are a number of allowable items under the Scheme that are deducted from net family income when calculating an income-assessed award. These include the Multiple Child Deduction, which provides for:
• A deduction of €4,300 for families with 2 children under the age of 15.
• A deduction of €8,600 for families with 3 or more children under 15.
280. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the additional money that has been allocated for Core Funding in 2026; the additional money which has been allocated for Core Funding across the 2026-27 programme year; for a breakdown of what the additional money is for, and the amount of it that is tied to staff pay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56001/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to ensuring access to affordable, quality early learning and childcare, with an investment of €1.48bn in this budget to build on the progress made in recent years.
2026 sees an allocation of €405.21 million made available for Core Funding. This is an increase of €51.97 million on the 2025 allocation of €353.23 million – representing a 15% year-on-year increase. The additional funding allows for the continued implementation of the Core Funding scheme for the fourth programme year (September 2025 to August 2026) and continuing into the fifth programme year starting September 2026 with strengthened support.
The additional funding being made available in 2026 will see the allocation for Core Funding in 2026/2027 programme year increase to €436.54 million – that is an additional €43.90 million on the current full year allocation, or an 11% increase.
This increased investment will allow for a 4.2% increase in the growth of the sector in year five of the scheme. This growth increase will be driven both by new services joining the sector and existing services offering more places and/or longer hours to families. €14.45 million has been secured for this purpose in a full programme year.
A further €0.89 million has been secured in a full programme year specifically to extend support to new capacity created by the Building Blocks Grants.
Increases to the allocations for non-staff overheads will ensure that the scheme is adequately responding to increased costs. €8.34 million has been secured for this purpose in a full programme year.
In addition, €20.2 million had been secured to support providers in adhering to the fee management conditions including reductions in the maximum fee caps in the 2026/2027 programme year. This will guarantee that Core Funding’s monetary protections will continue to be passed on to families while ensuring sustainability and stability for the sector.
The allocation for Core Funding in last year’s Budget, through the ringfenced allocation to support providers with the outcomes of proposed new Employment Regulation Orders, will support on average a minimum hourly rate increase of 10% for all roles outlined in the Employment Regulation Orders and will improve rates of pay for over 67% of staff working in services.
The Government is committed to supporting a new ERO process in the second half of 2026 and to making available a similar sum in 2026 for a further future round of pay improvements, subject to the deliberations of the independent Joint Labour Committee.
281. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the actions he has taken since becoming Minister to ensure that the an organisation (details supplied) will have sufficient funding to open the remaining 34 beds at their Ushers Quay facility that have remained closed for a year due to an ongoing dispute between his Department and the Department of Health as to which Department will provide this funding. [55660/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra302. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health when the €15 million in staff funding will be provided to a facility (details supplied) to enable it to open the remaining 34 beds that have been unable to open for the last 12 months due to a delay in the allocation of this funding. [55659/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to answer Question No. 281 and Question No. 302 together.
The Department of Health provided an additional €1m to HSE Dublin and Midlands in 2024 to enable the Dublin Simon Community to open a state-funded community care facility for people who are homeless, with an initial capacity of 51 beds.
The Department provided a further €4.9m to the HSE Dublin and Midlands in 2025 to meet the full year costs of the 51 beds. This is the largest investment by the Dept in healthcare services for people who are homeless and demonstrates the commitment of the Dept to meet the complex health needs of people who are homeless.
In July this year, the Depart and the HSE agreed to further increase in the capacity of the facility by 12 beds, to a total of 63 beds. This brings to €8.5m the combined Dept of Health and HSE investment in the facility to-date. This enhanced capacity will deliver c 900 treatment episodes per annum, which could potentially benefit one in five of the single homeless population in Dublin.
The four clinical programmes provided in the facility are:
- Alcohol & Benzodiazepine Detox – 11 beds - average stay 27 days
- Blood Borne Virus/stabilisation – 8 beds - average stay 32 days
- Low threshold Addiction Recovery – 20 beds - average stay 167 days
- Step Up Step Down (Intermediate Care) – 24 beds - average stay 19 days
The Department is currently considering a business case from the HSE Dublin and Midlands to open a further 12 beds, for an additional investment of €1.84m. The business case is being assessed in the context of the 2026 Estimates. The Minister will make an announcement on the business case shortly.
The Department is committed to incrementally expanding the capacity of the community care facility, depending on three factors:
• the availability of additional resources,
• the demand for the additional services,
• the effectiveness of the facility in facilitating a pathway out of homelessness.
An evaluation of the facility is proposed for 2026, and this will inform decisions on the further expansion of capacity at the facility.
It should be noted that there has been no delay by the Department in allocating funding, nor is there a dispute as to the responsibility of the Department to fund the facility. In line with good practice, the Department makes a careful assessment of the value for money of the business cases to incrementally increase the capacity of the facility. The Department then engages with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to secure the required resources in the Estimates process.
The Deputy should be aware that the Department allocates in excess of €50m for the provision of healthcare services for people who are homeless. Furthermore, I have announced additional funding of €1.53m in Budget 2026 to improve access to health services for people living in emergency homeless accommodation and those at risk of becoming homeless, on a national basis.
I firmly believe that in order to achieve better health outcomes for people who are homeless, we must provide a clear pathway by which people are supported to exit homelessness and to begin the journey to recovery and to a healthier and meaningful life.
282. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting a home help package in Kerry, broken down by area and by length of time, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55810/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible
283. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health to prioritise the provision of the planned online drug payment scheme refund application system to allow online application and document upload capabilities and allow the delivery of refunds by electronic fund transfer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55531/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
284. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current waiting list for CAMHS services, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55532/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
285. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who have been treated in the theatre of Mallow General Hospital from January 2024 to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55534/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
286. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who have been refused treatment at Mallow General Hospital from January 2024 to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55535/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
287. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of patients treated at Mallow General Hospital medical assessment unit from January 2024 to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55536/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
288. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the warfarin clinic (the 4th practice) is currently open for patients in Mallow, County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55537/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
289. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the warfarin clinic in Mallow, County Cork has closed at any period during 2025; and if so, the period of time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55538/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
290. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the procurement reforms expected at her Department as announced in Budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55590/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing Budget 2026, my Department will build upon existing initiatives in digital, green procurement, and centralised purchasing in support of transparency, sustainability, and efficiency.
My Department's procurement is carried out in accordance with public procurement policy and national and European Union law. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive, and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which ultimately delivers the best value for money.
My officials are responsible for ensuring that the Department's public procurement function is discharged in line with the procurement rules and procedures, using OGP's centralised procurement arrangements where possible.
291. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health if she plans to publish a national eyecare strategy in view of current high ophthalmology waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55591/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) provides optical services free of charge to pre-school children and national school children referred from child health service and school health service examinations who are discovered to have sight problems. These children are referred to the appropriate service for treatment. In such circumstances, these services will continue to be provided until the child has reached the age of 16.
The Community Ophthalmic Services Scheme (COSS) is a national fee-per-item scheme which was introduced in 1979. Under the COSS, medical card holders aged over 16 years can be seen by ophthalmologists, community ophthalmic physicians, optometrists or dispensing opticians.
The HSE Primary Care Eye Services Review Group Report, published in 2017, estimated that 60% of existing outpatient activity could be moved to primary care thus enabling hospital services to focus on patients who require more specialist diagnostics or treatments.
The National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology, published in 2017, developed a model of care detailing how the realignment of eye services from an acute hospital setting to the community would be undertaken.
The HSE has been developing multidisciplinary Integrated Eye Care Teams in accordance with this model of care. These teams facilitate assessment, diagnoses, management and treatment and in some cases pre-op/post-op care enabling most patients to be seen in their own locality. Where necessary, patients can be referred onwards to acute Ophthalmology services to receive the necessary specialist input.
Transferring the routine care of children aged 8+ years to the care of local private optometrists remains a priority. Work is also ongoing to explore the best way to expand the scope of practice of optometrists so that they can do more in their daily practice.
The Programme for Government: Securing Ireland’s Future contains a commitment to review the National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology to ensure more eye services are provided in the community. Engagement with relevant stakeholders regarding this is ongoing.
292. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE staff that have been included in HSE funded level 8 nursing degrees from September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55607/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
293. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health when all health care facilities in Sligo including Sligo University Hospital will use digitised health records as set out under the Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024-2030. [55627/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are actively progressing the implementation of 'Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024-2030,' which sets out a comprehensive roadmap to digitally transform health services nationwide, including the adoption of digitised health records across all healthcare facilities.
This transformation represents a fundamental shift away from traditional paper-based patient records towards modern, integrated electronic health documentation. By replacing fragmented paper systems with secure, interoperable digital records, the framework aims to deliver better continuity of care, enhance patient safety, and enable clinicians to access accurate information in real time.
Implementation of Ireland’s Digital for Care strategy is progressing at pace following its publication in May 2024. Ireland is pursuing a three-step approach to the delivery of electronic health records in Ireland, comprising a National Patient App, the National Shared Care Record and an enterprise level Electronic Health Record that will be centrally procured and configured, but regionally deployed and owned by each of the six health regions.
Launched in February 2025, the HSE Health app has now been downloaded by 140,000+ people, with 91,524 users accessing their personal health information. Version 3.0 of the app released in August 2025 significantly expands coverage—over 1.3 million appointments for more than 870,000 patients will be visible in-app—alongside feature upgrades that deepen patient engagement and reduce missed appointments. The app has also been recognised with three national awards in 2025, underscoring its role in empowering patients and improving access. The app has been co-designed with a wide range of people who use our services, staff, and advocacy organisations, who have been active partners throughout the process. Future app features will be guided by ongoing research and engagement with patients, staff, advocacy organisations, and the public.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) completed the procurement for the National Shared Care Record (NSCR) earlier this year. The NSCR brings together healthcare information from various sources such as hospitals, GP practices, and Community care into a single place, making them available at the point of care and self-care in read only format. By having access to key healthcare information in one place means healthcare professionals will be able to make more informed, safer decisions and to focus more time on direct patient care while patients will be better informed and empowered to manage their own healthcare.
The technology underpinning the National Shared Care Record was procured in 2024 (contract Q1 2025) and a phased rollout of the national shared care record is due to commence in Q4 2025 in the South-East region with University Hospital Waterford and surrounding community areas. The system will then extend to other regions from 2026 with additional patient data /information being added over time. Together with the HSE Health App, investing in a NSCR means unlocking fragmented data into a powerful tool for safer, coordinated patient-centred care while laying the foundation for a modern, connected and more efficient health service as we plan for a National Electronic Health Record.
The National EHR will be implemented across Health Regions and designed to interoperate with existing systems in acute and community services. Delivering an enterprise level EHR such as this, in every one of the six health regions, is a major undertaking and represents a significant investment by the state. Multi-year funding as part of the National Development Plan is required to ensure financing is secured, sequenced and managed against clear milestones. Delivery of the EHR is not a digital project. It is a large-scale transformation project that will be delivered through the State’s Infrastructure Guidelines process, with appropriate levels of assurance and governance.
The timeline for complete digitisation across all Sligo healthcare facilities is linked to ongoing phased national rollouts, infrastructure readiness, and resource allocation, with the goal to achieve a fully integrated digital health ecosystem by 2030. This effort directly supports the broader objectives of Digital for Care by enhancing integrated, data-driven, and patient-centred care.
The HSE has identified that significant upgrades to infrastructure, including network capacity and WiFi connectivity, are required in many of our hospitals in advance of EHR deployments. We are aware of the specific requirements at Sligo University Hospital in this regard, and plans are in place to address these infrastructural deficits in the short term to ensure the hospital is prepared for its transition.
I can assure the Deputy that the delivery of a modern, digital health infrastructure for all regions, including Sligo, remains a key objective. The 'Digital for Care' framework, supported by significant capital investment, provides the strategic pathway to achieve this vision over the coming years.
294. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if a podiatry clinic will be included in the new Birr primary care centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55629/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
295. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the components of the remuneration packages which are given to senior public servants at the National Ambulance Service (details supplied). [55630/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the HSE are responsible for payment of individual allowances and travel & subsistence claims I have asked them to reply to the Deputy directly.
296. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if she is concerned that guidelines for the treatment and management of Covid-19 were not issued to GP's until 27 April 2020, ninety days after the first case of Covid was recorded in Europe on 24 January 2020; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55632/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra298. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason the hospital guidelines during Covid in place on or before 23 March 2020 expressly directed the use of hydroxychloroquine as an antiviral treatment; the reason NPHET included it in their treatment guidelines for hospital patients and at the same time requested that it should not be used by GPs in the community or in the nursing homes the very place where it was most badly needed and where it has been safely prescribed by GPs in the community for many decades; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55634/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 298 together.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) was an established mechanism for coordinating the health sector response to significant public health emergencies. It facilitated the sharing of information between the Department of Health and its agencies. Throughout its existence, the NPHET for COVID-19 oversaw and provided national direction, guidance, support and expert advice on the development and implementation of a strategy to contain COVID-19 in Ireland.
In particular, the NPHET played a critical role in closely and continuously monitoring the evolving impact of COVID-19 on Ireland’s population, as well as the health service’s capacity, performance, and ability to respond.
The decisions and recommendations of the NPHET are published in full here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/collections/minutes-and-agendas-from-meetings-of-the-nph….
As the Deputy will be aware, a COVID-19 Evaluation Panel has been established. This is an independent, non-statutory evaluation, with a wide remit that will incorporate pandemic responses across hospitals, the community and nursing homes, along with wider economic and societal impacts.
With respect to the development of National Clinical Guidelines (NCGL), the Health Service Executive (HSE) are responsible for the development and updating of NCGLs. As such, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
297. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if she is concerned that treatment guidelines for the hospital sector had been issued by NPHET and were in place and fully operational several months prior to the issuing of guidelines for the nursing home sector on 27 April 2020; the reason for the delay in issuing guidelines to the nursing home sector; if she has sought an explanation for the delay in the issuing of guidelines for the sector, bearing in mind that several hundred nursing home residents had died prior to the eventual issuing of guidelines on 27 April 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55633/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe vulnerability of residents living in nursing home settings was identified early in the pandemic, and the overall national response to COVID-19 had a specific and sustained focus on supporting residents and staff in nursing homes throughout all phases of the pandemic.
I would like to clarify to the Deputy that significant structured support and guidance was provided to the nursing home sector in the early stages of the pandemic and before the specified date in the Deputy's question. This included:
• Nursing homes were a constant focus of NPHET discussions and recommendations from early March – The decisions and recommendations of the NPHET are published in full here: Minutes and agendas from meetings of the NPHET: COVID-19
• Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control (AMRIC) guidance specific to Infection Prevention and Control Guidance in nursing homes, including outbreak control, which was published on 21 March 2020. This guidance was regularly reviewed and updated many times over the forthcoming months as the disease evolved throughout the pandemic.
• Visiting restrictions in nursing homes were introduced by NPHET in March 2020, and substantial guidance for providers was developed by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), which was regularly reviewed and updated throughout the pandemic.
In addition, significant supports were provided to nursing homes, including:
• Substantial support and advice through the Departments of Public Health and Outbreak Control Teams;
• Multidisciplinary clinical support at the Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) level through 23 COVID-19 Response Teams;
• The provision of free PPE and oxygen from the HSE to private nursing homes.
• HSE Planned programme of serial testing of all staff in nursing homes.
• Access and mobilisation of HSE staff from community and acute hospitals to nursing homes.
• The HSE provided free temporary accommodation to nursing home staff.
• The Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) was established for private and voluntary nursing homes to contribute to their preparedness, resilience, and management of COVID-19 outbreaks.
In addition to immediate actions taken, and following a recommendation by the NPHET, the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel was appointed in May 2020 to provide immediate, real-time learnings and recommendations in light of the expected impact of COVID-19 over the following 12-18 months.
The expert panel published its report in August 2020, which identified learnings and 86 recommendations to inform the approach to the management and mitigation of risk to older persons resident in nursing homes as the pandemic evolved. Four Progress Reports and two implementation progress updates have been published since the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel published its report in August 2020. The most recent implementation progress update was published in November 2024, which highlights that 65 of the 86 recommendations have already been implemented and mainstreamed into normal operations.
The Expert Panel recommendations have provided a guiding framework not only for the pandemic response in nursing homes but also more broadly for a wide-ranging programme of improvement and reform for older persons’ care, in residential care settings.
The Government recognises how incredibly difficult it has been for the families of nursing home residents who died during the pandemic, which has presented one of the greatest and most wide-ranging public health challenges internationally in recent history. The Government remains committed to the implementation of the Expert Panel recommendations, and work is continuing to advance the remaining recommendations.
299. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason the IMC president (details supplied) did not inquire into nursing home fatalities, when this matter was brought to her attention in writing, upon the resignation of a council member as far back as April 2020; if she has engaged with the IMC in relation to this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55635/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra300. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason her Department ignored concerns raised in April 2020, by a member of the IMC in relation to the catastrophic loss of life within the nursing home sector; the reason this matter was not investigated (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55636/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Question No 299 and Question Number 300 together.
The Medical Council is the independent statutory body which regulates doctors in Ireland. Operating under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, its primary purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training, and competence among registered doctors. One of the Council’s key functions is to investigate complaints against registered doctors, and any person may make a complaint. The Medical Council has no role in the oversight or regulation of nursing homes.
The vulnerability of residents living in nursing home settings was identified early in the pandemic, and the overall national response to COVID-19 had a specific and sustained focus on supporting residents and staff in nursing homes throughout all phases of the pandemic.
I would like to clarify to the Deputy that significant structured support and guidance was provided to the nursing home sector in the early stages of the pandemic and before the specified date in the Deputy's question. This included:
• Nursing homes were a constant focus of NPHET discussions and recommendations from early March – The decisions and recommendations of the NPHET are published in full here: Minutes and agendas from meetings of the NPHET: COVID-19
• AMRIC guidance specific to Infection Prevention and Control Guidance in nursing homes, including outbreak control, which was published on 21 March 2000. This guidance was regularly reviewed and updated many times over the forthcoming months as the disease evolved throughout the pandemic.
• Visiting restrictions in nursing homes were introduced in March 2020, and substantial guidance for providers was developed, which was regularly reviewed and updated throughout the pandemic.
In addition, significant supports were provided to nursing homes, including:
• Substantial support and advice through the Departments of Public Health and Outbreak Control Teams;
• Multidisciplinary clinical support at the Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) level through 23 COVID-19 Response Teams;
• The provision of free PPE and oxygen to private nursing homes.
• Planned programme of serial testing of all staff in nursing homes.
• Access and mobilisation of staff from community and acute hospitals to nursing homes.
• Free temporary accommodation to nursing home staff.
• The Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme was established for private and voluntary nursing homes to contribute to their preparedness, resilience, and management of COVID-19 outbreaks.
In addition to immediate actions taken, and following a recommendation by the NPHET, the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel was appointed in May 2020 to provide immediate, real-time learnings and recommendations in light of the expected impact of COVID-19 over the following 12-18 months.
The expert panel published its report in August 2020, which identified learnings and 86 recommendations to inform the approach to the management and mitigation of risk to older persons resident in nursing homes as the pandemic evolved. Four Progress Reports and two implementation progress updates have been published since the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel published its report in August 2020. The most recent implementation progress update was published in November 2024, which highlights that 65 of the 86 recommendations have already been implemented and mainstreamed into normal operations.
The Expert Panel recommendations have provided a guiding framework not only for the pandemic response in nursing homes but also more broadly for a wide-ranging programme of improvement and reform for older persons’ care, in residential care settings.
The Government recognises how incredibly difficult it has been for the families of nursing home residents who died during the pandemic, which has presented one of the greatest and most wide-ranging public health challenges internationally in recent history. The Government remains committed to the implementation of the Expert Panel recommendations, and work is continuing to advance the remaining recommendations.
Additionally, as the Deputy will be aware, a COVID-19 Evaluation Panel has been established. This is an independent, non-statutory evaluation, with a wide remit that will incorporate pandemic responses across hospitals, the community and nursing homes, along with wider economic and societal impacts.
