Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Maybe some people do not want the answers. I can speak fast but not that fast. In response to Deputy Ó Murchú, I extend my sincere sympathy to the families, friends and staff in Dealgan nursing home, which he referenced. I will have to liaise with the HSE on the specific question on the RCSI's involvement. I know it has been playing a proactive role. The Deputy wants an assurance that the role will continue. I will revert to him directly or through the HSE on this in the coming days. To anybody who has any concern about any long-term residential care facility, I point out that HIQA is there as a regulator.

To answer Deputy Andrews's question on testing, we are delivering. I do not have time in 50 seconds to tell him in how many ways. Last night, a table was published by Our World in Data, which shows Ireland ranks fourth highest out of 25 EU countries and the UK in terms of tests completed as a percentage of the overall population. Rates can also be displayed as tests completed per 1 million population. We are ramping up our testing and improving our testing turnaround times. We could constantly do better and we need to do better.

Private hospitals are being used and in response to another question I am sure I will get a chance to talk about the utilisation figures. We do not move people from their homes to make a private hospital busier or anywhere else busy. We take these as clinical decisions and I would not like to overrule those clinical decisions.

On Pieta House, I am looking into that matter. I am very grateful for the very good work it does. On A Vision for a Change, I am in the hands of the Oireachtas as generally we do not bring new policy decisions. Deputy Shortall raised this with me last week and I met the mental health forum today on it. We usually let a new government bring the A Vision for Change policy. It is ready to go and I have an open mind on what is the best timing to do it. I will come back to the Deputy directly on homecare workers.

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