Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

More than 2,000 nursing home residents have died from Covid-19 in Ireland and more than half of those deaths were recorded in the third wave. The Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, which is responsible for monitoring standards in all our nursing homes, both public and private, stated in its annual report, which was published last week, that 82% of nursing homes reported at least one case of Covid-19 and the virus still presents a real and present danger to the sector. HIQA is seeking an urgent review of the current nursing home care regulations.

At the same time, we have the Coroners Society of Ireland calling for a wide-ranging inquiry into all Covid-related nursing home deaths.

Its president, Frank O'Connell, believes there is a basis for a more wide ranging inquiry into all Covid related deaths in nursing homes, to deal with such questions as design, ventilation, isolation, staffing etc. Yet as we hear these calls the Department of Health is cutting back on the financial supports to the nursing home sector just as we face into a fourth potential wave from the Delta variant of the virus, which has been so deadly within the sector over the past year. The Department of Health has confirmed that the temporary assistance payment scheme, TAPS, which provides payment for Covid-19 infection control measures is to be completely withdrawn from the long-stay residential sector for older people from the end of this month. Despite the Government categorically stating there would be no cliff edge for Covid supports for any sector, we now find that the State is planning to withdraw this support completely. There is a fear from residents and their families that nursing home care is being de-prioritised at a time when there should be a thorough review of all supports and standards within the whole sector before there is any change to the current scheme.

I put it to the Taoiseach that older people in long-term care have been at the front line when it comes to the threat of Covid infection. The reality is that they remain on that front line until all of us are vaccinated. There remains a threat of a new variant taking hold that circumvents the immunity provided through the current vaccination programme. I urge the Taoiseach to ensure, at the very minimum, that the current level of Covid protections remain in place until the reviews sought by HIQA and the Coroners Society of Ireland are completed.

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