Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his questions and continued interest in the nursing home sector. I reiterate the plan is to vaccinate in all 585 nursing homes, with 70,000 staff members and residents, by Sunday week, with the first dose of the BioNTech vaccine. I spoke to Brian MacCraith, the HSE and the Department about this last week and we had a meeting which the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, was at last Friday. If there is a small outbreak, we will proceed as planned. However, if there is an outbreak among 50 residents, and more than 80% have Covid, a decision may then be taken with regard to health and safety. The decision will be taken by medical people and the HSE. The co-operation between Nursing Homes Ireland, which represents 80% of nursing homes in Ireland, and the voluntary and community sector is at an all-time high. Everything that can be done for nursing homes is being done. There are significant challenges regarding staff. Some 890 staff from the nursing home sector are currently out because of Covid, which is a significant challenge.

I do not have an answer about St. John of God. Perhaps we can come back to the Deputy in writing.

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