Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

First, I am happy to wish Deputy O'Reilly's husband the very best. There are not many people in Sinn Féin that I can say I have campaigned with, but I remember being at a campaign event for Together for Yes with her husband. I am glad to hear he is doing well and has had a good experience.

The reason Deputy O'Reilly highlighted that point was screening. We will be led by the clinicians on this. I have given a commitment in the House that restart dates will be given at the end of this month. I am due to meet representatives of the national screening service again tomorrow. I will be happy to provide an update to Deputy O'Reilly and anyone who is interested post that meeting. I will 100% commit to an information campaign. That will be essential. It is not that I will not commit to a catch-up campaign but I want to be led by the clinicians so that I do not make the mistakes that perhaps I have made in the past in respect of some of these issues. I will come back to Deputy O'Reilly and the women concerned specifically and directly on the cases she has written to me about.

To be clear, I do not think I used the word "trooper" about anyone. I was simply making the point that we need people to stay at home if they think they have the virus. I finally get to use the phrase that it might be a matter for the next Government in terms of some of the broader issues raised by Deputy O'Reilly on sick pay and schemes in that regard.

Deputy O'Reilly asked about an important issue that has been highlighted by the Irish Daily Mailin respect of the Keltoi addiction centre. I thank the Deputy for raising this because I have been following the matter closely since I read of it. Most important, I wish to offer my sympathies to the families of the two people who died due to drug and alcohol related factors. We know that drug and alcohol addiction is a recognised risk factor. We know that it is a key focus of our national drugs strategy. Obviously, I cannot comment specifically on the two deaths but in speaking about the Keltoi rehabilitation unit in general I am aware that the service was repurposed to provide self-isolation facilities for vulnerable groups during the Covid-19 pandemic. I am informed that everyone in the unit had completed their residential programme prior to the repurposing of the facility and that after-care supports were subsequently provided to clients, including health and social supports and consultant psychiatrist support, as required. I understand the HSE is undertaking a review of the treatment and support to two individuals. I will absolutely consider this once completed and we will decide if further action is needed. I do not have a specific date for the reopening of Keltoi, to be honest. However, in line with all addiction and residential treatment programmes that have been unable to operate during the Covid pandemic, the HSE is working through a process of resumption of services in a safe manner. It will resume. It is the intention to reopen the services.

I do not want to use the time of Deputy O'Reilly's colleagues but I will comment quickly on intellectual disability services. I genuinely believe the publication of the HPSC advice on the safe resumption of those services is a key moment. I have met several organisations that are looking for guidance. They want to open and are looking for guidance. I will correspond directly with Deputy O'Reilly when we have a little more detail. This is a priority area. I assure Deputy O'Reilly that it is far more important to me than some of the other issues that dominate the Covid pandemic discussions. The families and individuals concerned really need these services resumed.

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