Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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1575. To ask the Minister for Health the strategy for exiting lockdown restrictions; the level of patients in hospital and in intensive care units that is required to allow further easing of restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18300/21]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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1580. To ask the Minister for Health if he considered sharing when the reopening of the country can proceed dependent on the number Covid-19 vaccines that have been administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18325/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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2428. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which he can remain cautiously optimistic in the context of the vaccination programme here as a facilitator for the reopening of business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20852/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1575, 1580 and 2428 together.

Significant progress has been made in recent months in suppressing the virus due to the huge effort of our citizens. By working together, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland. We all must continue to do everything possible to avoid the virus spreading.

As has been the case throughout the pandemic, there is no single metric or target that is considered; rather it is an assessment of a range of indicators and trends. In its revised Plan, COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – the Path Ahead, the Government set out four conditions to enable a significant easing of measures:

- Disease prevalence (case numbers/incidence) is brought to much lower levels that can be managed and controlled by public health and that the reproduction number (“R” number) is such that we can be confident we can continue to suppress the disease e.g. at or below 1.

- Hospital and critical care occupancy are reduced to low levels to protect the health service and allow for the safe resumption of non-COVID-19 care.

- Emerging information on variants of concern.

- Ongoing and steady progress on the vaccination programme such that the most vulnerable are protected through vaccination.

Modelling shows that the risk of a fourth wave can be very substantially reduced if we continue to keep the disease under control in April and May and allow a greater proportion of the population to be protected through vaccination. The situation will be subject to ongoing review taking account of the evolving epidemiological situation, the impact of the reopening of priority services, and available evidence in relation to vaccine deployment, uptake and effectiveness. The NPHET and the Government will consider the position again at the end of this month and it is anticipated that a roadmap for the further easing of measures over the coming months will be agreed.