Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister for Health is more than aware, it was confirmed within the past hour and a half that there is a patient in the intensive care unit in Cork University Hospital who has tested positive for the coronavirus. The patient is receiving intensive care in an isolation unit. As with many other Deputies from affected areas, my phone has been hopping since the case arose. There is obviously great concern in the community, as there will be in every community across the island. No community is likely to be untouched by this. It will have a great impact on life in Ireland and on health. We need to do everything we can. I appreciate everything that previous speakers have said about the impact on industry but I appeal to people and say that if our primary consideration in dealing with this illness is the economy, there will not be much of an economy left if the issue is not dealt with. The overriding consideration must be public health. It must outrank all other considerations.

I am sure the people of Cork are very concerned, as am I and every other Deputy. I emphasise to the people of Cork that they may have heard advice on washing, coughing and sneezing, and they may have paid some attention to it. Now is the time to enforce the advice absolutely, every day, every minute every hour. People have a role to play. The impact of such advice, when it is effective, is unbelievable. I appeal to the people of Cork to do their part and try to minimise the transmission of the infection. That is what people can do.

Much of what can be done rests in the hands of the public service, particularly the health service. There are people who are working very hard. I understand and appreciate that individuals such as Dr. Tony Holohan, Dr. Ronan Glynn and the Minister for Health and his staff are working extremely hard. We need a number of things. For many years, we have had a health system under pressure. Our bed occupancy rate is about 92%. We need to free up beds. Some 20% of people who contract the coronavirus will have to be treated in hospital. The other 80% can be treated in the community. Our priority, which I am sure is being explored, is to take people out of hospitals in so far as we can. If they can be moved to nursing homes or step-down facilities, that needs to happen. If they can be moved home, with the assistance of home help, that needs to happen. If we can find alternative care settings that are not being used for medical purposes but which are suitable, they need to be identified and used as soon as possible. I urge the authorities in Cork, but also those across the rest of the State and the Minister, to try to achieve what I am outlining. Staffing is central in this regard. Staffing is central to being able to bring people home and deliver the extra beds. In this regard, I appeal to the Minister to lift the cap on home help as soon as possible in order to allow as many home helps as possible to get into the system and help people to come home as soon as they can in order to free up the beds that are so badly needed. I urge the Minister to lift the employment embargo in order to ensure as many nurses as possible can be employed. The INMO is always saying there are nurses who are dying to work. They should be given the opportunity.

The Department of Education and Skills needs to step up its communication with schools - not only with those that are affected but also others in the affected communities because there will be a crossover between primary and secondary levels. Schools in the communities in question need to be communicated with and given guidance on what they should be doing. They can be in a difficult situation. I will be conveying this directly to the Minister. Schools are not just places of education; they are also pastoral settings. Children are scared. A principal told me that contact had been made with the Department of Education and Skills to inquire about the resources that may be available for teachers or students in regard to empathy and teaching people how to cope, but there is nothing in that regard. This matter needs to be addressed. We need to offer some peace of mind and security to children. We need to give teachers the support they need to deliver in this regard. That is important. In addition, there must be clear guidance. Schools are in a difficult position in terms of deciding whether to close. I urge them to err on the side of caution but I realise that they are in a difficult position.

My final point relates to social welfare. As soon as possible, we need to deal with the position of people who are forced to self-isolate such that they will not be wrecked owing to a lack of income. The changes in recent years, pertaining to the six-day rule on sick pay, were regressive. They make this even harder. If legislation is needed to address this matter, we should produce it. People should not be left out of pocket.

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