Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Naughten for raising the issue. As society begins to reopen we will be able to reduce our reliance on many different supports that the Government has provided throughout the pandemic. The Covid-19 temporary assistance payment scheme was established as part of a comprehensive package of support measures for nursing homes at the start of the pandemic. It was originally introduced for three months, to conclude in June 2020, but obviously the continuation of the pandemic meant that there were two further extensions. It was and is a successful scheme and it has been very impactful. It provided additional funding to those nursing homes that required it, to contribute to the costs associated with dealing with Covid-19. These included the costs incurred in preparing for and mitigating against Covid-19 and in the management of outbreaks when they occur, contributions towards the costs of maintaining isolation rooms, and a once-off contribution towards temporary visiting infrastructure during winter 2020.

The cessation of TAPS has been communicated with all stakeholders. As of 11 June about 7,148 claims had been submitted and €134.5 million has been allocated or made available under the scheme. It has always been just one component of a suite of supports. Other supports included providing access to personal protective equipment and oxygen, the establishment of Covid response teams, support for staff accommodation, access to training and the serial testing programme. Many of these and other supports will continue for the time being as required. Furthermore, an outbreak assistance payment will continue to be made available until the end of the year as a support for any nursing home that experiences a Covid-19 outbreak.

In addition, it has to be taken on board that the vaccination programme has had a very significant impact on nursing homes. There has been a huge uptake, close to 100%, by residents and staff. The effect is very strong with significant reductions in cases, outbreaks and mortality. This is a factor. We also need to move on from the current temporary schemes to working through the more medium-term reforms that have to happen within the nursing home sector and perhaps the changes that will cost not just the nursing homes but also the State, in light of the Covid-19 nursing homes expert panel report. The panel identified 86 recommendations in the report and the Government is fully committed to its implementation. Costs will arise across the system relating to the necessary systemic reforms. It is best to do that through a more informed and developed scheme as opposed to doing it through a temporary scheme.

We will keep the situation under review. We are fully open to evaluating what happened in nursing homes, outside of the pandemic and right through it, and learning lessons from it.

See this speech in context