Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his kind words. I agree with him wholeheartedly about the Department of Health, the HSE, HIQA and the other State agencies regarding the volume of work that the various organisations have to do and the fact that Covid probably doubles the work. The staff have not doubled. This has meant that in the Department, HSE, HIQA, HPSC, HPRA and across the board the same people are working incredibly long hours. They are working at weekends. I have talked to people within the system, including public health doctors, who have gone weeks without seeing their children.

The Deputy referred to disadvantaged areas and high positivity rates. It is a good question. One of the measures the HSE is taking is to bring in mobile testing and try to create high visibility. There is considerable engagement with schools but more needs to be done.

I am unsure whether it is part of the same issue but I am conscious that two districts in Dublin are bucking the trend. Dublin is not reducing its case numbers as much as we would like. In the recent period the figures have gone down in these areas by 13%. That is significantly lower than the reductions we are seeing in other parts. This applies in two areas, Dublin North and Dublin South-West. One is stable. Dublin South-West is not seeing any reduction, but in Dublin North the figures are going back up again.

It is a pertinent question. Mobile testing is being deployed so that there is more visibility. There are supports for nursing homes and so forth, but I am open to other suggestions on what else needs to be done.