Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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680. To ask the Minister for Health the number of deaths that have been declassified following incorrect classification as being Covid-19 related (details supplied); the correct number of deaths associated with Covid-19; his views on whether it is correct to classify all deaths as Covid-19 deaths simply due to a positive test result in cases in which a death may have not been related to Covid-19; if the public will be informed of the number of deaths that fall into this category; the number of Covid-19-related deaths that are subject to a coroner's report; the number of deaths have been deemed to be incorrectly classified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28392/20]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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750. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons who have died as a result of Covid-19; the number of persons who have died of other illness but also had Covid-19; the number of persons who died of other illness who had Covid-19 but who were Covid-19 asymptomatic, in the last year. [28779/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 680 and 750 together.

Since the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) met for the first time, a commitment was given to collect and publish as much relevant data as possible while ensuring individual patient confidentiality is maintained at all times. While the nature and scale of the COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented, the collection of timely and comprehensive data has been instrumental in developing the health service response to Covid-19 and to the advice provided by NPHET and the Department of Health to assist Government decision-making in the wider response to the disease in Ireland.

It should be noted that in Ireland, data are collected on COVID-19 related mortality for both lab confirmed and probable cases, in line with recommendations from the World Health Organisation and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in both hospitals and the community. It should also be noted that collection of COVID-19 related mortality data in Ireland exceeds that of many other countries in the world .

The Deputy should note that comprehensive national statistics, information, and data about Covid-19 is published on a daily basis on the Department of Health website at www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-health/ and on the Covid-19 Data Hub and Dashboards available at . The published data are based on official figures provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and the Health Service Executive (HSE). All datasets, charts and maps are updated on an on-going basis and in line with newly published data.

I would also direct the Deputy to the CSO website for access to a range of data relating to Covid-19 including the numbers of diagnosed cases and mortality data. This is available on the CSO Covid-19 Information Hub at www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-covid19/covid-19informationhub/ and, in particular, at www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/br/b-cdc/covid-19deathsandcasesseries12/.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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681. To ask the Minister for Health the total expenditure by the HSE on Covid-19 to date; a breakdown of the main areas of expenditure; the amount of increased capacity that has been added to the healthcare system since the onset of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28395/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Government set out in its National Action Plan on Covid-19 16 key action aimed at flattening the curve of the pandemic outbreak in Ireland.

The focus of the first 8 actions was effective communication to manage the public health response, caring for ‘at risk’ or ‘vulnerable’ members of society, ensuring the ability of the acute hospitals system to care for people during the pandemic, expansion of critical physical capacity, protecting our health workforce and maintaining access to essential health products, equipment and services.

The implementation of the first 8 actions was the responsibility of the Health Service Executive supported by the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

The total estimated Covid-19 related spend by the HSE to the 18th of September on delivering these eight actions is €1,886m set out as follows;

Flattening the curve of the pandemic was essential given the capacity constraints which already existed in the Irish hospital system and the significant risk that Ireland’s hospital system would become overwhelmed very quickly. Ireland has the highest acute bed occupancy in Europe at 93% and one of the lowest levels of critical care beds per 1,000 of the population in Europe at 3.3.

Given these capacity constraints in the acute hospital system a major focus from the onset of Covid-19 has been on increasing capacity to cope with the surge in demand that could arise from Covid-19 outbreaks. The Department of Health is working with the HSE to increase acute capacity in hospitals throughout the country.

In the context of the current COVID-19 Pandemic response since March:

- The number of critical care beds has increased by 42 since the start of the year to 297

- Noncritical care bed capacity has increased by 324 to 11,597.

In addition as part of the initial emergency response Increased bed capacity provided by the private hospital sector amounted to 1,900 inpatient beds, 600-day beds as well as 47 ICU and 54 HDU beds.

To date the Government’s measures have been successful in flattening the curve and the additional capacity put in place has allowed the system to cope within the current response requirements.