Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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205. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 19 of 16 September 2020, if students on placement in a healthcare setting that have part-time employment are expected to continue to go out to work in a wide range of settings while also working on placement thus vastly increasing the risk of transmission; the position regarding those students that work in caring or other related positions; and if they are expected to complete their placement in a hospital and then go to work in a nursing home or other similar setting despite certain employers, third-level institutions and trade unions (details supplied) advising against same. [25834/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Clinical placements have recommenced recently for healthcare students in line with the requirements of their courses. The resumption of clinical placements is also essential in terms of ensuring the continuation of a sustainable workforce into the future.

As the Deputy was advised by the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in his reply on 16 September, guidance on the resumption of clinical placements was issued by the Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE to all Higher Education Institutes and copied to healthcare providers. This guidance included a revised version (dated 17 August 2020) of the HSE's document - Infection Prevention and Control Requirements for Clinical Placements in HSE facilities in the context of COVID-19. This document, among other things, sets out the requirement for Infection Prevention and Control Training for all students. It also underlines that clinical placements are an essential part of students' education and training, ensuring that they will continue to receive the breath of clinical experience that they require.

According to this guidance, students can move from a placement in one setting to a placement in another without an interval of time, provided they complete a COVID-19 Healthcare Worker Relocation Self Risk Assessment prior to commencing in a different location. Similarly, if a student continues part-time work in a healthcare setting during the same period as attending clinical placements, they are required to complete this self-assessment on an ongoing basis so that any need for testing may be identified. The guidance makes it clear that students should not present on clinical placement if they have any symptoms of acute infection. Overall, the guidance facilitates students in completing their education and training and in doing so it does not preclude them from working part time so long as they adhere to the infection prevention and control requirements.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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206. To ask the Minister for Health the number of HSE disability staff in CHO 9 that have been redeployed to provide Covid-19 swabbing functions in test centres in each month from May to September 2020, in tabular form. [25843/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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207. To ask the Minister for Health the number of HSE primary care staff in CHO 9 that have been redeployed to provide Covid-19 swabbing functions in test centres in each month from May to September 2020, in tabular form. [25844/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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208. To ask the Minister for Health if urgent consideration will be given to issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) concerning the difficulties in delivering health services; and if assistance will be provided to the sector as promised by his predecessor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25856/20]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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212. To ask the Minister for Health if concerns raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in relation to the dentistry profession will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25873/20]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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216. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided to independent dental practitioners for PPE since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic [25908/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 208, 212 and 216 together.

I am aware of the difficulties that the current Covid-19 pandemic poses for the dental profession. My Department has worked with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) to provide guidance to allow for the resumption of the safe provision of routine care. The HPSC advises that regular PPE, which has always been used, is generally sufficient for routine dentistry. This is supported by the Dental Council which has indicated that dentists must take a case by case assessment when deciding if additional PPE is warranted.

My Department, in conjunction with the HSE, is examining the issue of the provision of PPE across all parts of the health service, including health service contractors.

The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS), which currently provides a range of dental treatments to medical card holders will need to be revised in order to align it with modern evidence on oral health needs and provision of dental services. My Department is committed to reviewing the provision of dental care for those eligible for public services and will engage with representatives of the dental profession in this regard.

I am aware of the delays in accessing some services provided by the HSE, caused in part by the necessary concentration of resources at managing the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, I understand that the HSE expect most services to return to normal in due course.