Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Reid and all HSE staff for their work over a difficult six months.

I will follow up on what the Chairman asked in relation to the people identified. Confirmed cases numbered 1,269 over the past 14 days and reference was made earlier to the reduction in hospital admissions. How many of the 1,269 cases were aged over 65? It would be interesting to know what numbers are over 65. I know Mr. Reid cannot give it to me today but he might come back to me on it.

I have a series of questions on the nursing homes issue. When the outbreaks occurred in nursing homes, there was considerable engagement between the HSE and nursing homes. My understanding is that the level of engagement between Nursing Homes Ireland and the HSE has not been maintained. Can I get some clarification as to whether that engagement can recommence?

I refer to temporary assistance payments to nursing homes. As Mr. Reid will be aware, Covid has resulted in considerable additional costs for nursing homes The Government put in place the temporary assistance payment until September. Has the HSE made recommendations to the Minister about the continuation of that payment in view of the fact that nursing home payments under the fair deal scheme have not been reviewed for four or five years but they now face additional costs?

The Covid expert panel made recommendations on the entitlement of residents with medical cards in nursing homes to community and medical healthcare services. Has the HSE currently capacity to deal with that issue?

One complaint was there was not the access to the supports that nursing homes required when they needed it urgently at the time. Has that now been revisited?

What is the current procedure when a person in a nursing home needs to attend an outpatient clinic? What additional precautions have been put in place? What changes have been made? I have a view, which I expressed on a number of occasions, that rather than people from nursing homes coming into outpatient clinics, a member of HSE staff would visit the nursing home, perhaps on a monthly basis, to deal with all the issues arising. Will the witnesses come back to me on those issues?