Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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388. To ask the Minister for Health if the NPHET will allow the resumption of video fluoroscopy procedures at CHI at Temple Street as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10104/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The National Action Plan for Covid-19, published on 16 March 2020, included a wide range of action areas as part of the response to Covid-19. In regard to acute hospital care, action areas related to maintaining critical and ongoing services for essential patient care, as well as related to maximising patient flow, including restriction of elective and outpatient care. On 27 March, in the context of national data showing increased spread of Covid-19, and of an updated European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control risk assessment, NPHET made a number of recommendations aimed at interrupting transmission of Covid-19, and related steps. These included that non-essential surgery, health procedures and other services should be postponed.

On 5 May, NPHET agreed that this recommendation should be replaced, from now on, in regard to acute care, with a recommendation that delivery of acute care be determined by appropriate clinical and operational decision making.

Accordingly, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly as soon as possible in relation to the service matter raised.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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389. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding music schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10108/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business, published on 1 May 2020, sets out an indicative path to the easing of COVID 19 restrictions and other actions in order to facilitate the reopening of Ireland’s society and economy in a phased manner. Phase 1 was introduced on 18 May 2020 and, as the Deputy is aware, the Government confirmed the move to Phase 2 of Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business from Monday, 8 June 2020. Information and advice about the restrictions that have been eased as part of Phase 2 and the measures that are now in place are available on the Government website at .

The Roadmap specifies that decisions in relation to which actions will be taken and which public health measures might be lifted will be made in accordance with the Framework for Future Decision-Making which is as follows:

1. Before each Government consideration of the easing of restrictions, the Department of Health will provide a report to the Government regarding the following on/off trigger criteria:

a. The latest data regarding the progression of the disease,

b. The capacity and resilience of the health service in terms of hospital and ICU occupancy,

c. The capacity of the programme of sampling, testing and contact tracing,

d. The ability to shield and care for at risk groups,

e. An assessment of the risk of secondary morbidity and mortality as a consequence of the restrictions.

2. It will also provide risk-based public health advice on what measures could be modified in the next period.

3. The Government would then consider what restrictions could be lifted, having regard to the advice of the Department of Health as well as other social and economic considerations, e.g. the potential for increased employment, relative benefits for citizens and businesses, improving national morale and wellbeing etc.

4. It is acknowledged that there is also an ongoing possibility that restrictions could be re-imposed and this process will be carried out on an ongoing basis once every 3 weeks.

As is clear from the framework described above, it is the Government rather than I or my Department that will decide on any modifications to the current public health measures in place and those decisions will be informed by the status of the on/off trigger criteria and the public health advice received at the time that a decision is being made.

On 9 May the “Return to Work Safely Protocol - COVID-19 Specific National Protocol for Employers and Workers” was published. It provides clear guidance to employers and to workers on the measures that must be taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The Protocol was developed through the cooperation of the Health and Safety Authority, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, the HSE and my Department. It is designed to be used by all workplaces to adapt their procedures and practices to provide protection against the threat of COVID-19.

The services described in the Deputy’s question are not matters within the remit of my Department. Guidance in relation to specific sectors of the economy should in the first instance be sought from the Government Department with responsibility for that sector.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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390. To ask the Minister for Health the length of time the mandatory quarantine period of 14 days for international arrivals is expected to last; and when it will it be reviewed. [10123/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The issue of imposing mandatory self-isolation for a 14-day period, to be considered as the situation evolves, was mentioned in the Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business.

My Department, in consultation with other relevant Departmentsis developing proposals to strengthen the 14-day arrangements for travellers from overseas.

Previous general regulations restricting movement and travel, and separate regulations covering the Passenger Locator Form for incoming international travel, were timebound and sunset or due for review within a few short weeks. It is intended that a similar appproach would be adopted in relation to the possible introduction of mandatory quarantine.