Dr. Kathleen MacLellan:

I will commence and then pass over to Mr. David Walsh. The expert panel has been very helpful in this by identifying clearly within the recommendations that we must continue the current supports that are in place. Those supports will be continued and the commitment is given to that. There has been a commitment on the availability of PPE, which is essential in protecting nursing home residents.

One issue we have not touched on so far is that serial testing within nursing homes has been operating as an early warning to us regarding Covid-19 entering nursing homes and giving us assurance that it is not within our nursing homes. The third round of this serial testing is commencing. It will continue for two weeks over the next month within those nursing homes. The frequency of that, whether it is to be increased or decreased, will be reviewed by NPHET. The resources and the continuation of those tests are in place.

We have also provided additional resources to the HSE to support infection prevention and control and these are already there, as well as towards the recruitment of 18 clinical nurse specialists in infection prevention and control across our community. We have just given sanction to HIQA to recruit nine additional inspectors so that there will be more inspectors available on the ground.

As we look at all of these recommendations, we will cost them to see if additional resources are needed. However, we are looking at the immediate and urgent ones to ensure those recommendations that need to be implemented or the resources that need to be in place are in place. I will pass over to Mr. Walsh now to see if he wishes to add anything to this.