Dáil debates

Thursday, 14 May 2020

Covid-19 (Health) - Statements

 

4:45 pm

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will try to get through each of the Deputy's questions. Regarding testing, the HSE has done an incredible job, moving heaven and earth to get to the point now where it will have the capacity to do up to 100,000 tests a week. Today, the HSE announced a plan for how, from next week, it intends to have end-to-end referral to contact tracing completion in less than three days in 90% of positive cases. That is a truthful acknowledgement that in the remainder of cases there could be some more complex contact tracing and management. It also intends to have the target swab-to-result in less than two days, which would take account of the majority of cases which, thankfully, are negative. Currently, 97% of tests that have been taken are negative. This is an area that we want to continue to be scrutinised. I am aware the Covid committee will look at this next week.

In terms of more rapid testing, that could really be a game-changer. Deputy Leddin is correct; we were one of the first countries in the European Union to carry out a massive health technology assessment and to publish it. I know it was seen as useful not just in this country but also among other regulators that did not recommend one currently, but it is constantly under review.

The short answer is "yes". I will ask that it continue to be reviewed but I know it is already happening. There are two parts to my answer on the issue of tracing. I reiterate that it is my intention to publish the source code and data protection impact assessment, DPIA, for the app before it is launched. I will also ask if there is any further purpose-built technology which could be used in the back office to speed up contact tracing. Automation is seen as having the potential to shave further time off the process.

With regard to isolation and airports, the Deputy is right; this issue will become bigger and bigger as countries start to reopen. It is a relatively small issue at the moment. Approximately 3% of cases of Covid in Ireland have come through travel. One is much more likely to get it in the community but that is because there is not really any travel happening. As travel begins to recommence we will need to have very robust protections in place. I intend to see the passenger locator form put on a regulatory footing. That will be a matter for Government and I hope we can consider it in the coming days. It is my personal view that self-isolation should also be regulated and made mandatory. That is not the case today so I do not have the figures for which the Deputy asked. I will see if the border management unit has any.

We do not currently envisage testing at airports for some of the reasons the Deputy outlined with regard to the current testing process. That could be reviewed should a quicker test become available.

With regard to funding, not long before the last Dáil was dissolved for the general election we set up a group chaired by Peter Cassells to begin work and engagement between the voluntary sector and the State with regard to the Catherine Day report. As I have said in the House, I do not believe that 1% efficiency saving will be achievable in 2020 in the current context. I intend to engage with the sector including the Disability Action Coalition, which Deputy Shortall asked me to meet. I have a meeting scheduled with that group for early next week.

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