Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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315. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if special interpersonal or other relevant training has been given to staff and ancillary agency staff dealing with the public in the context of the stress of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8831/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides staff with the necessary and relevant training required to carry out their duties. In response to Covid-19, it has rolled out the Lead Worker Representative training, updated First Aid Response, PPE and Infection Prevention Control training, all within a COVID-19 context.

In light of the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, my Department adapted its work processes and implemented new best practices to support and develop our staff in such a way to allow the successful continuation of service to the public.

Under its internal people strategy, ‘WELL’, my Department rolled out a series of webinars and Lunch and Learn sessions covering topics such as ‘building resilience, ‘stress management’ and‘coping with loss’ in the covid context. These initiatives were further enhanced by presentations to staff from the Employees Assistance Officer.

My Department does not maintain the requested information in respect of the State bodies under its aegis. These State bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in the following table.