Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Butler for her questions and the work she has done on this. The HSE informs me there are approximately 1,250 PPE deliveries to nursing homes and residential units every week and that the deliveries consist of 2,500 to 3,000 cartons and pallets, providing in excess of 1 million pieces of PPE per week to nursing homes and residential units. The Deputy is right to highlight an issue in relation to gowns. This is an area in which the HSE has highlighted a particular shortage. I am told by the CEO of the HSE that 2,000 more gowns are due to arrive in Ireland over the next few days and 1 million more gowns are due to start arriving from 18 April, which is this week.

On the issue of indemnity, I will check where that is at and revert directly to the Deputy. I welcome the redeployment agreement reached, which will be a very big help.

As we increase our testing capacity for next week, and I have discussed this with the Chief Medical Officer, one of the areas where I really want to see an increase in testing is asymptomatic residents of our nursing homes. We need to be able to identify very quickly if anybody in a nursing home could have Covid-19 before they show symptoms. This could really help the sector.

I have more to say on nursing homes but I will wait until the next round of questions when I have more time.

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