Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the officials from the Department and the HSE for their attendance and presentations. I will follow on from an issue raised by Deputy Duncan Smith. Questions of low pay and precarious work are clearly very pertinent to this whole issue. I would like Mr. Walsh to go into a bit more detail about the comments he made about the accommodation many of the staff are living in.

It has been identified as a key issue that many staff are not only low paid but are often consequently living in poor-quality accommodation, in congregated settings and, in some cases, in direct provision. Given the growth of the virus, particularly in the Dublin area and the potential threat to residents in nursing homes, what is happening with regard to the issue of unsatisfactory housing conditions? Will the witnesses spell out what action is being taken in that respect? It seems it is the source of much of the spread of the infection. What arrangements are in place for care staff who are diagnosed with the virus to isolate themselves?