Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Covid-19 has posed significant challenges including isolation, bereavement, anxiety and loss of income and work for many. As a nation, we continue to rise to this huge challenge but some of us will need additional support as we face this difficult time. Since the pandemic started, mental health services have responded rapidly, continuing to deliver supports for people in the safest possible way. Some services have been reconfigured while others, like telehealth, have been significantly enhanced with our NGO partners. This has ensured the delivery of the best possible service to some of our most vulnerable citizens in sometimes extremely difficult circumstances. I thank all mental health staff and commend them on their hard work and dedication.

A continuity plan has been finalised for the current outbreak. Experience from the initial outbreak and associated restrictions have ensured enhanced preparedness. Throughout the pandemic, specialist mental health services have operated at 85% to 90% of pre-Covid levels and this level of capacity is expected to continue throughout this current surge. Residential facilities continue to operate as usual with some adaptations and restrictions. Day services will prioritise high-risk individuals with service user and staff safety of paramount importance. Telehealth services are fully established including yourmentalhealth.ie, the information line 1800-111-888, the crisis text line 50808 and NGO online supports.

Use of these services has increased significantly during Covid-19. Mental health services and supports are available at all levels to children, young people and adults who need them. Recent trends in nursing homes are concerning, with provisional data including 62 new outbreaks in the last week and active outbreaks are three times the number that existed in mid-December.

Some positive news is the approval at European level of vaccines and the start of the roll-out here. The vaccination programme has accelerated to deliver the first dose of vaccinations to all staff and residents of long-term residential care facilities, including nursing homes, mental health and disability residential centres, by 24 January. Vaccinating our older and vulnerable population and those who care for them is our priority.

The HSE continues to provide personal protective equipment, PPE, and other necessary supports to help prevent and control outbreaks of Covid-19. I ask residents and families for their understanding at this difficult time, to work with nursing homes on visiting arrangements and to please support the dedicated staff to ensure a safe and effective roll-out of the vaccine, as it offers hope for better days in the near future.

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