Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy knows, HIQA has started its visits to nursing homes, both private and public. It published a new assessment framework, I think last Tuesday, and it has started those visits. HIQA is the regulator. It has a direct line to me and I meet it at least once or twice a week. It is in a position to highlight any issues of concern it may have. I repeat and stand by the comments I made in this House last week on clinical decisions deciding the care people get.

Regarding the Professor Barry letter to which Deputy Smith referred, I will provide a written response to that to ensure accuracy.

I am glad Deputy Bríd Smith raised the issue of direct provision because it allows me time to respond to it. However, I need to let Deputy Paul Murphy in as well.

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department of Justice and Equality and the HSE have worked closely together to support the health and welfare of asylum seekers and refuges availing the State's accommodation service. The Department and the HSE are following the Health Protection Surveillance Centre's Covid-19 guidance for homeless and for vulnerable group settings, including direct provision settings. That guidance is published on the HPSC's website. The guidance exists precisely because it was recognised that congregated settings, such as direct provision centres, present specific challenges. Together, they have put in place a range of measures in the Department's accommodation centres to address any cases of Covid-19 where they arise. This includes provision of self-isolation facilities in centres and a number of off-site self-isolation centres around the State.

In all matters related to Covid-19, the Department of Justice and Equality is working with the HSE to implement the latter's public health advice. The established procedure across all centres when a person is suspected of having the virus or is confirmed as having the virus is that he or she is moved to a dedicated off-site self-isolation facility. Supports are available for the duration of the person's period of isolation until such time as the HSE considers the person can return to his or her centre with no risk to other residents or staff.

All residents considered to be especially vulnerable to this virus on age grounds or special medical grounds have been cocooned. The direction from the HSE's national social inclusion office is that non-family members sharing a room in centres are considered to be a household during the Covid-19 crisis and should implement social distancing measures on the same basis because they are already close contacts.

Residents have been made aware, as have we all, of the appropriateness of social distancing, good hand hygiene and cough etiquette. Information and posters have been distributed to all centres. Centre managers have been advised to increase the standard and frequency of cleaning throughout the centres paying particular attention to communal areas. A regular supply of hand-sanitisers for centres is in place. The Department of Justice and Equality has put in place a national clinical telephone service to provide public health advice to support centre staff and it is used to advise, support and work with locations where vulnerable groups are present relating to the implementation of the guidelines.

The Department of Justice and Equality and the HSE want to protect the identity and medical confidentiality of residents as required by law but, obviously, will comment on outbreaks if there is a public health reason to do so. Generally, residents of centres are subject to the same current public health measures to which we all are in relation to remaining 2 km from one's home. The Department of Justice and Equality and the HSE will continue to work together closely on this for the benefit of residents and centre staff.

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