Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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911. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the number of public health passenger locater forms issued and processed by her officials during their tenure of the collection of same on a temporary administrative basis on behalf of the health authorities will be provided; the number of follow-up checks conducted on persons that submitted forms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14856/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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On the 28 April 2020 my Department agreed to undertake, on behalf of the health authorities, the collection of public health passenger locator forms on a temporary administrative basis. The Border Management Unit (BMU) operate the scheme at Dublin Airport, which is the principal route through which people enter the State by air. While the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) manage the compliance for the other ports, the passenger locator forms are forwarded to the BMU in Dublin Airport, who also carry out the follow-up calls for those ports.

Any cases of non-compliance, identified by the BMU are referred directly to the GNIB for follow up. Section 31(a) of the Health Act 1947 (as amended) provides for powers of arrest for An Garda Síochána. The Act and the regulations were brought forward by the Minister for Health.

The BMU established a system to follow-up on all arrivals at a proportionate rate of a minimum of 70%, after removal of the exempt categories of passengers. The cohort of passengers failing to answer initial phone calls are followed up with repeated further telephone contacts. The first calls are made two days after passengers have arrived into the State. For any passengers staying in the State for up to 14 days or more, a second call will be made on day 10 to ensure they are still residing at the address provided and self-isolating.

The BMU operates 24/7 on a split roster over two terminals in Dublin Airport, comprising of eight teams working a 12 hour shift. The current staffing numbers are as follows:

- 1 Assistant Principal Officer

- 2 Higher Executive Officers

- 18 Executive Officers

- 128 Clerical Officers.

Since the introduction of the Passenger Locator Form, every member of the Unit has been involved in the collection of passenger information and follow up phone calls to passengers.

There has been almost 100% compliance at Dublin Airport with the requirement to complete the form from incoming passengers. To date, only 3 people have been referred to GNIB due to their refusal to complete.

Up until late June 2020, 100% of inward travellers were phoned by the Border Management Unit. Due to a natural increase in passenger numbers, and the return by BMU staff to core functions, this percentage has reduced since 1st July 2020.

The table below details the compliance rate for the period 28 April – 30 June 2020.

The BMU continues to carry out the follow up phone calls on behalf of the HSE, but as passenger numbers are expected to increase significantly over the coming days, the BMU will need to focus exclusively on their core function of immigrating passengers and the HSE will take responsibility for this function. Discussions are ongoing between both Departments to finalise a date for the handover.