Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1240. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda checks that have occurred on a weekly basis from 6 February 2021 to date on persons quarantining at home after arriving here in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14735/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, An Garda Síochána is responsible for policing the public health regulations made under the Health Act 1947. 

I am informed by Garda management that An Garda Síochána has been receiving passenger location information from the Department of Health’s service provider since 24 February 2021.  This information relates to people arriving into the State who are suspected of breaching the requirement to quarantine at home.  I am further informed that the information is provided daily to An Garda Síochána approximately 6 days after the individual arrives into the State.  Checks are then scheduled in cases where the data passes preliminary validation by the Gardaí.

I am informed that an implementation pilot has been established in 6 Garda Divisions which involves the Garda National Immigration Bureau forwarding requests for local Gardaí in these divisions to call to people to check on compliance.The expansion of this work to cover all Garda divisions will be supported by work ongoing in the Department of Health on enhancements to the passenger locator form. 

An Garda Síochána have advised that in the period between 24 February 2021 and 22 March 2021, the details of 1,300 individuals were referred to local Gardaí for checks to be carried out on these people quarantining at home. An Garda Síochána report that up to 14 March, 590 checks on people quarantining at home were recorded during this period with a weekly breakdown as set out below. Data up to 21 March is expected to be available by the end of this week.

*This is operational data and is subject to change.