Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1230. To ask the Minister for Health the long-term Covid-19 plan for persons with disabilities in residential care facilities. [32724/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In the context of the Governments Resilience & Recovery Framework (2020 – 2021), the HSE regards the provision of disability services, including residential care and support, as essential to maintaining a response to the needs of people with a disability.

Throughout the pandemic, the HSE has worked closely with service providers to ensure that residential care is provided in accordance with public health guidance. The HSE has also worked with service providers to facilitate emergency residential placements during the public health emergency in response to the needs of service users and their families.

Approximately 8,400 people with disabilities live in Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) registered disability centres ranging from single apartments to group homes in the community to campus-based facilities. Long term residential care settings for people with a disability are the home environment of the residents. HIQA has played an important role in providing advice and support to residential centres as they tackle COVID-19 and ensuring they are maintaining compliance with HIQA standards and engaging in appropriate contingency planning with a view to winter preparedness.

As of midnight October 31^st2020, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has confirmed:

- There has been no outbreak of COVID 19 (two or more cases) in over 80% of centres. Outbreaks have, however, been recorded to date in 143 residential disability centres.

- 73% (or 104) of these have now been declared closed after 28 days with no new cases while 39 remain open.

- 709 people are laboratory confirmed being Covid-19 positive.

- It is estimated that around 54% of those affected were staff, and 46% were residents.

- Unfortunately, 13 people have died, all of them residents

My Department secured €100m in additional funding in Budget 2021, which will significantly increase the disability services budget to around €2.2 billion next year and build the capacity of these services in the context of ongoing challenges presented by COVID-19. This additional investment includes provision for increasing capacity within our residential services and supporting people with a disability to move out of congregated settings into residential settings in the community in line with key Programme for Government commitments.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1231. To ask the Minister for Health the number of palliative care patients who required access to a palliative care bed in south County Tipperary since March 2020; the number of palliative care patients who were refused a bed in a palliative care facility in County Tipperary since March 2020 due to the of lack of beds; the number of patients who required convalescent care in south County Tipperary since March 2020; the number of patients who have been refused convalescent care due to the closure of St. Brigid's Hospital; the number of patients who have been refused respite due to the closure of St. Brigid’s Hospital since March 2020; the breakdown of the number of all patients who would normally use the St. Brigid’s Hospital facility for respite care who have been accommodated since March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32725/20]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.