Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Okay. I asked the then Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, to investigate this matter in early June. Will Dr. Glynn examine Professor Cusack's report, please, and undertake a swift process to determine why Kildare suffered so disproportionately? I had believed it was because we had more nursing homes than other counties, but that was not the case. There is some reason for Kildare suffering disproportionately. During the peak, 67 people were transferred from hospitals to nursing homes in north Kildare without testing. I would appreciate if Dr. Glynn investigated the matter.

My second question is on testing at Naas General Hospital. The focus is on the meat factories currently, but it is important that we not take our eye off the ball. The Taoiseach stated that weekly testing of employees in meat factories would commence before moving to fortnightly testing. After a positive case being identified in Naas General Hospital, I am surprised that we are not testing our healthcare workers and other hospital staff more regularly. Such testing had not started in Naas up to the day before yesterday.

Will testing be available for high-risk teachers? I spoke to the Minister for Education and Skills yesterday and asked whether it would be advisable to keep such teachers for remote learning. What is Dr. Glynn's opinion on this matter?

At a health briefing for Kildare's elected representatives last Friday, Dr. Glynn stated that NPHET had certain recommendations concerning employees in meat factories. In terms of contact tracing and the number of people living at the same address, has NPHET engaged the environmental health officer? As of a Kildare County Council meeting last week, the environmental health officer was not looking at homes where many people were living. Will Dr. Glynn start with these questions, please?