Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will start with Deputy Nolan's questions. She is absolutely right to highlight the issue in regard to meat factories, as was Deputy Mattie McGrath. I have outlined on the record of this House the protocols in place and the national outbreak team that is overseeing this issue. The regulation and management of meat factories resides with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, rather than with me, but I take very seriously the points made by Deputies Nolan and Mattie McGrath. I will revert to them in writing in regard to the specific protocols and safeguards in place and the work that is under way. I will also revert to Deputy Nolan in writing, as requested, in regard to the nursing home issue and Portlaoise hospital.

I thank Deputy Mattie McGrath for raising a range of very serious issues. I wish to note, however, that the only reason we have suspended any service is to save lives. Nobody wants to suspend a disability or screening service. We suspended services to make sure that more people did not die of Covid-19 in our country. The only motivation for suspending services was public health. The Deputy is correct that we now need to put in place a plan to safely reintroduce some services in a manner which recognises that this virus is not going away and we will have to work out a way of living alongside it while keeping staff, residents, patients and citizens who use services safe.

I have outlined the processes that have been put in place for screening services. A plan is being devised to determine how we can try to provide some supports to children with disabilities. I thank the Deputy for raising this very serious issue. Many children with disabilities have not had a school or health intervention for many months. We cannot just tell children we will see them in September. That would be an entirely inappropriate, offensive and irresponsible approach. I am working with colleagues in the Department of Education and Skills to see what we can do for them over the summer months. It will have to be done in a safe way involving physical distancing. There are things we need to do to support that.

I have a note to hand on St. Brigid's that I will not have time to read out. My understanding is that admissions will recommence when there is a demand and I wish to provide the Deputy with that assurance. I am sure the Deputy did not mean to say that those aged over 70 are locked up. Nobody is being locked up. We are giving people over the age of 70 the very best medical advice to keep them safe. I know it has been really tough for them and we are eager to see that situation improve.

On Jigsaw in Tipperary, I had a meeting with Jigsaw. In the interim period while its services cannot be provided locally it has moved a lot of services online to try to provide some degree of support to young people in Tipperary. The website jigsaw.iehas a lot of help for young people in Tipperary.

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