Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

If that is 50%, and if we are looking at the new pod type arrangements, because we had a considerable discussion on this in the Dáil some time back, the question arises as to how staffing will be applied to the new pod arrangements in September. I presume it will go back up to 100%. Can the new pod system be made work, particularly for smaller and older providers that have been providing services in the community for a decade or two or even longer, if a serious constraint is put on them if the pod system is to be adhered to, notwithstanding the fact that reopening grants and once-off capital grants are being made available? I note what was said about providers feeding back that they would be able to manage it, but even if €18 million is put in place for additional staffing costs, training and staff guidelines, additional resources, hygiene and cleaning consumables, if the regulatory regime on the spatial requirements is applied uniformly throughout the system it will have a major impact on providers throughout the State, such that there will be an even higher rate of attrition in the number of providers. What I am getting at is if we could get some assurance from the Department and Tusla that the hammer will not fall too hard and common sense will be applied, such that people will be allowed to survive as long as they meet, by and large, the requirements expected of them.