Mr. Tadhg Daly:

The Deputy raised three points. One was on the policy of the sector on moving staff between centres. A number of our nursing homes, particularly in rural Ireland, would have a steady state of staff. In urban areas, more so, there would be some movement of staff between centres. However, there would also be movement of physiotherapists and speech and language therapists, and of other professionals coming in and out of nursing homes. There is no absolute policy one way or the other.

On the €72 million, as of last Friday, €8.7 million has been drawn down and the majority of that has been spent on PPE and staffing.

On the issue of the transfer of residents, I am not saying it was the sole determinant. However, I am saying it was a significant contributory factor because, as we know now, there was much greater community transmission of the virus.