Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Teachtaí Ó Murchú and Andrews. The first issue I wish to raise concerns nursing homes. Two weeks ago, I was advised during a teleconference with the HSE that patients were not transferred to nursing homes unless they had received two negative results for Covid. Some of the information that is coming to me is anecdotal and I also have information from a member of my family. The very firm belief among people I have spoken to is that at the very start of this crisis, in preparation for the surge, patients were moved without being tested into the nursing home sector. The belief in the sector among some staff members, which is in accordance with the experience of my family member, is that the virus was brought into the nursing homes from the hospitals.

I have raised this issue previously with the Minister. Can he confirm that testing is now being done in every single case? Will he advise whether it is his intention to examine the possibility, as raised by me previously, that the virus may have come into nursing homes by dint of the preparations that were made at the very beginning of the crisis when people were moved out of hospitals? I am being straight with the Minister in saying I am not convinced the testing happened as is being claimed. It is what the HSE told me happened when I spoke to officials on a conference call and I accept that it may be practised in some instances now, but I do not believe it was practised at the time, and that is an issue that needs to be examined.

The next issue I want to raise concerns direct provision. I thank members of the Fingal Communities Against Racism for the good work it continues to do with our neighbours in Balseskin. Yesterday, when I asked the HSE how many people in direct provision had tested positive for Covid-19 I was told that number was 150. At a later briefing, journalists were told the number is 88. I understand this is an ongoing situation but perhaps the Minister would provide the exact number.

I have been contacted by a woman who was moved out of a centre to a hotel to self-isolate. She was told that this would be helpful because she would be closer to a hospital and she could quarantine for seven days. This woman has three young children and they are all living in one room. The woman and one of her children have serious respiratory conditions. She is worried that other people who are self-isolating because of suspected infection are being housed in the same hotel, which is contrary to HSE advice. This woman is terrified. She has requested a transfer, as anyone would. The woman has been told that transfer requests cannot be processed due to Covid-19. This transfer is being requested because of Covid-19. That is what makes it urgent. This woman is living in one room with three children, who have only noodles and bread to eat because that is all she can get. She does not want to return to Balseskin where there were 93 confirmed cases of Covid-19, representing an infection rate of approximately 40%. She wants to protect her children and she needs help. How many positive cases of Covid-19 are there in direct provision? Will the Minister, as a matter of urgency, ensure that the additional capacity created in places like Citywest can be utilised by people in direct provision, DP? Will he ensure that the mixing of people who are cocooning with those who are transferred out of direct provision because they are suspected cases of Covid-19 stops immediately and will he urge the Department of Justice and Equality to facilitate transfer for health and safety reasons?

I want to raise again with the Minister the issue of geriatricians being part of the teams that go into nursing homes, which I raised with him last week. If the Minister has responded, I apologise as I have not seen a response. It would be a really good idea and very beneficial.

The final issue I want to raise concerns section 39 agencies and charities, which have been struggling for some time due to loss of income through funding cuts over the past decade. Will the Minister consider establishing a Covid-19 fund for these charities to help them get over the difficulties that they face? Will he restore the €20 million funding cut to section 39 agencies and guarantee the HSE funding to the sector? The Minister will appreciate that their normal channels of fundraising are pretty much closed to them. They are desperate and they need help to continue to provide vital supports in the community.

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