Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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767. To ask the Minister for Health if a data analysis survey carried out by a company (details supplied) referenced in an article can be published; the cost of commissioning this report; if the contract for the report was tendered publicly; if the expertise exists in his Department or the HSE for analysing the data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42020/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The report referred to in the RTE article was compiled using existing datasets brought together by EY data analysts and analysed to give composite insights. It is not as a result of any specific survey conducted. The report is available to be released under FOI in the normal manner and a detailed overview of the work is available on the Gov.ie website under the heading of ‘Data Analytics Insights: 27.11.2020’.

 The report was compiled under an existing HSE contract for the provision of data analytics expertise which has been extended under a specific arrangement with EY and other firms in response to the needs generated by pandemic pressures. EY were specifically requested to provide analysis and reporting capability to government under this contract regarding the health, social and economic impacts and effects observed through the implementation and relaxation of restriction in line with the framework. This reporting capability is intended to enable additional ongoing analysis to support government decisions regarding actions to be taken in response to the pandemic. The contract extension was made to an existing publicly tendered contract with EY.  

Yes expertise exists in my Department and in the HSE to provide deep analysis on health data. However, these resources have been significantly stretched in providing analytical support to the public health response as well as to existing services and new services such as Test and Trace operations. It has been necessary to augment these resources in response to the Pandemic.