Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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438. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department is working with health facilities to deliver measures to allow for some level of visitation by family members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10456/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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While visiting restrictions are required in the context of a pandemic situation, national guidance issued by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and available on the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) website advocates a compassionate and practical approach in relation to visiting by friends and family.

A updated guidance document on Infection Prevention and Control Precautions for Possible or Confirmed COVID-19 in a Pandemic Setting was published on 3 June 2020. It notes that while visiting restrictions will be required in a pandemic, local risk assessment and practical management must be considered, ensuring the response is both pragmatic and proportionate. Specific scenarios where a compassionate and practical approach is required include care of the dying.

Updated COVID-19 guidance on visitations to Residential Care Facilities was published by the HSE on 5 June 2020 and comes into effect from 15 June next. It sets out the criteria for visiting residential care facilities with no ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and for visiting residential care facilities during an outbreak of COVID-19. Indoor visiting in residential care facilities where there is no ongoing COVID-19 outbreak will be permissible from 15 June in circumstances where certain criteria are followed. During an ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 within a residential care facility, the guidance advises that all but essential visiting is suspended in the interests of protecting residents, visitors and staff.