Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. The health service has faced an unprecedented challenge in the past 11 months. In some ways, redeployment of primary care staff can be thought of as the community sector turning to its own surge capacity to respond to the needs for testing and tracing services and, crucially, to provide additional supports to the residents of nursing homes and other long-term residential facilities, whether private or public.

The focus in the months ahead will be on the following: continuing to deliver Covid-19 and non-Covid care side by side safely; maximising the volume of non-covid care and catching up, where possible, on any shortfalls; and bedding in reform of the delivery of services. This will be supported by the significant investment in the health service in 2021, including €150 million in new development funding to deliver an enhanced community care programme.

The Department of Health and the HSE are working closely together to ensure continued access to services to our most vulnerable people and those with the greatest need. As part of these efforts, staff who have been redeployed will return to their core roles as soon as it is possible and safe to do so.