Mr. Jim Breslin:

As I referenced earlier, there is already infection control guidance for the sector from HIQA. The HPSC issued guidance in early March, setting out how to manage Covid-19 both to prevent it and if there was an infection in a nursing home. Guidance, which is continually updated, has been issued to the sector. As the Deputy will no doubt hear from the HSE later today, a huge range of supports have been put in place to try to help the sector. The sector is a mix of publically operated and privately owned facilities. It is not line managed in its entirety by the HSE; much of it is outside the HSE.