Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy O'Reilly for her questions. On the section 39 agencies, I will examine the issue and revert to the Deputy on it. On the point regarding the geriatricians, I have written to the Deputy on it. The short answer is that we are examining how we can do something not too dissimilar to what the Deputy suggests.

On nursing homes, I have discussed with the Chief Medical Officer the need for the National Public Health Emergency Team to review the issue of long-term residential care in nursing homes, about which the Deputy rightly stated there is a lot of anecdotal information, including, for example, the visitor restrictions. In fairness, the data and the graphs that have been produced by NPHET and the Chief Medical Officer show that the timelines do not align. My gut feeling is it is a case of delayed transfers of care and people being discharged into the nursing homes sector. The short answer is that we are going to examine the matter and revert to the Deputy on it. It does seem that community transmission is the most likely reason. Obviously, essential are workers are doing an incredible job but their having to go into healthcare facilities seems to have been a factor. We will produce a paper in relation to the work, which we will share with the Houses and the committee. We will publish it as well.

On direct provision, first it is really important, for the benefit of those who sometimes like to talk down the many brilliant people who come to our country from over jurisdictions, that we acknowledge that there are 160 healthcare workers resident in direct provision centres across the country. When we are applauding and thanking healthcare staff we should be cognisant of the fact that 160 healthcare workers are coming through direct provision. I thank them for the contribution they are making to the Irish health service.

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