Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to return to the issue of nursing homes. As we are all aware, nursing, care and residential homes bore the brunt of deaths caused by the pandemic, with 62% of deaths occurring in that sector. As we prepare for a possible second surge of the pandemic, we must learn from the past three months. Test, trace and isolate is the mantra for success. I have called for and raised with the Minister recently the importance and necessity for regular testing in nursing and residential homes.

Today, Dr. David Nabarro, the World Health Organization special envoy, attended the Dáil Special Committee on Covid-19 Response by video link. When I asked him about regular testing he stated: "Taking a comprehensive approach, to include frequent testing and paying real attention to what is happening inside these facilities, will help to reduce the risk and maintain the health of the residents." He also stated that consideration should be given to "virus testing quite frequently, perhaps at weekly intervals or even more often if there is a concern." I also asked him about the high number of deaths in this sector and he specified that Ireland is certainly at the upper end of the spectrum in that regard. To be fair, he also said that not all countries release all their figures in the way we do here. To reiterate, regular testing will provide some degree of reassurance for those in nursing and residential homes and their carers and families. We must learn lessons. If the Minister would give me an update on how we intend going forward, I would appreciate it.

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