Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I look forward to the fact that we will have a review of what happened during Covid. One of the measures we put in play - it was the former Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, who put it in play - was the expert panel report in relation to nursing homes and there were short-, medium- and long-term recommendations in that. We are following to the letter in relation to Covid response teams on the ground.

There was a huge amount of additional capacity provided. Some €149 million was available for Covid outbreak assistance. We are still providing free personal protective equipment, PPE, to every nursing home in Ireland. It has cost the State €79 million to date. The State reacted, and reached quickly.

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