Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

924. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if provisions have been or are being made to provide PPE for persons in direct provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21618/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

All accommodation centres are carefully following the guidelines for our centres that have been published by the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre, which can be found on its website www.hpsc.ie. That guidance exists precisely because it is recognised that congregated settings such as Direct Provision centres present specific challenges in this pandemic. During this time, centre managers have also been advised to increase the standard and frequency of cleaning throughout the centres, paying particular attention to communal areas.

The Department of Justice and Equality supplies a regular supply of hand sanitiser for centres as well as facemasks for residents and staff and is distributed to centres, as required. Other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is distributed, as needed, and in line with the HPSC guidelines for its appropriate use in residential settings.