Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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1957. To ask the Minister for Health if residents in mandatory hotel quarantine with specific dietary requirements allergies, kosher and so on will receive meals in line with their requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19421/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The safety, wellbeing and comfort of all guests quarantining in a designated facility is a priority of the mandatory quarantine system, along with the ultimate goal of protecting public health by limiting the potential spread of COVID-19 variants of concern.

All reasonable efforts will be made by both service provider staff and the on-site health team to facilitate a comfortable stay in a designated facility, including meeting dietary needs.

Additionally, all guests undergoing mandatory quarantine in a designated facility are being provided with access to a 24/7 on-site healthcare team who hold clinical responsibility for their wellbeing during their stay. The on-site healthcare team are available to address any wellbeing concerns of guests, such as notification of allergies, through both scheduled daily check-in calls during a guest's stay as well as through direct engagement if requested.

The State Liaison Officer (SLO) will have staff onsite 24/7 at each designated facility to liaise between guests and the service provider if required.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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1958. To ask the Minister for Health the considerations his Department is giving to easing restrictions on inter-household gatherings outdoors following recently published figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre showing significantly less transmission of Covid-19 in outdoor settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19429/21]

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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1959. To ask the Minister for Health the considerations his Department is giving to easing restrictions relating to businesses with outdoor facilities following recently published figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre showing significantly less transmission of Covid-19 in outdoor settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19430/21]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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1756. To ask the Minister for Health if he will immediately reconsider easing restrictions on outdoor gatherings, outdoor activities and outdoor hospitality services in view of the recent data from the HSPC on the low incidence rates from outdoor gathering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18902/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1958, 1959 and 1756 together.

NPHET has consistently advised that outdoor settings are considerably safer than indoor ones based on national and international evidence. This was a key informing principle in the development of the 5 level framework of public health measures last September and in the Government decision last month to commence the easing of some measures over April which are focused specifically on outdoor activities. As the Deputies will be aware, households have been permitted to meet with one other household outdoors for social or recreational purposes since the 12 April. From 19 April, adult inter-county GAA training can commence while from the 26 April, outdoor sports facilities and outdoor visitor attractions will reopen and underage non-contact outdoor training will also resume.

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.

It is important to note, however, that while outdoors is safer, it is not risk-free. It is important to continue to practice social distancing and other safe behaviours when meeting people outdoors and masks should be worn in crowded outdoor spaces.

HIQA undertook an evidence review on higher-risk environments and activities for the NPHET in November 2020, drawing on national and international evidence. The Review found that while there is consistent evidence that the risk of outdoor transmission of COVID-19 is substantially lower, there is still evidence of transmission occurring in outdoor environments. This is particularly the case when there are large gatherings, where social distancing or the use of face coverings are neglected, and where there is dense congregation and mixing among groups. There are also risks linked to what might precede and follow outdoor gatherings including associated events and activities and shared travel to or from events or activities. The review is available here.

(www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/health-technology-assessment/activities-or-settings-associated-higher-risk.)

In relation to the data published by the HPSC, the HSE has clarified that this data is limited and will not reflect all cases associated with outside activities. Firstly, it only relates to outbreak data and it is not possible to link every case to a particular outbreak setting. A proportion of cases will also be considered community transmission or are under investigation when the source isn’t known. As such, the surveillance data would not capture all cases potentially associated with an outdoor environment/activity. Secondly, there may be outbreak settings that wouldn’t be considered as “outdoor” environments but where transmission amongst some cases associated with such outbreaks may have occurred outside (e.g. while congregating/socially interacting outside a building and not maintaining physical distancing etc.). Thirdly, there are indoor ancillary activities associated with outdoor activities as set out above (eg travel to/from activity, changing rooms etc.) that won’t be classified as linked to an outdoor event.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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1960. To ask the Minister for Health if revised guidelines can be expected for businesses with regard to the need for social distancing once the Covid-19 vaccination programme is completed in the third quarter of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19431/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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.

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.

With regard to the issue of revised guidelines on social distancing once the COVID-19 vaccination programme is complete, it should be noted that the level of people fully vaccinated remains low and there is not yet full evidence in relation to the impact of vaccines on transmission, the period of vaccine induced immunity, and the risk of reinfection, as well as the impact of variants on vaccine effectiveness.

As with all issues in relation to COVID-19, this issue will be kept under review by the NPHET.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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1961. To ask the Minister for Health the measures that are being developed by his Department to address an increased demand on mental health services in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19432/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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While there is no doubt that Covid-19 has posed significant challenges, including isolation, bereavement, anxiety and loss of income and work for many, we do not yet fully understand the impact of Covid-19 on mental health, the extent of subsequent supports that may be required or how this may affect longer term demand for services. However, a negative mental health outcome for our population from this pandemic is not inevitable if we set about responding to the challenge in a cohesive manner.

The HSE has a range of proactive responses for any rise in mental health service need, including online and other telehealth psychosocial supports. The Department of Health and HSE continue to plan for any surge in demand as it arises.

The HSE Psychosocial Framework, published in January 2021, builds on a range of supports introduced last year in response to Covid-19, including self- help and psychological first aid supports for staff. The Framework acknowledges the impact of the pandemic on mental health in all areas of society and identifies priority groups, including health care workers and people bereaved due to Covid-19.

The report's framework sets out 6 levels of structured psychosocial response, which enable the HSE to effectively integrate the wide range of wellbeing and mental health supports available across the health sector.

The focus of the framework is to provide tailored psychological supports at earlier levels i.e. 1-4, where the aim of services is on preventing psychological impacts from Covid-19 in to potentially developing into more significant mental health problems.

Work on levels 1 to 4, is aimed at planning, funding and delivering services appropriate for different levels of population need, but with the same preventative aim. It is in these areas that the HSE staff have been working hard to augment existing services and introduce new supports, which take into account the health restrictions of Covid-19.

Mental Health services at levels 5 & 6, are targeted at providing appropriate support to people who more significant mental health support needs.

€2.2 million was provided to the HSE in 2020 for a mental health promotion and well-being campaign, through enhanced online supports to improve population health outcomes. Telehealth services are fully established including YourMentalHealth.ie, which offers a wealth of information on mental health supports and coping with difficult situations during Covid-19; the information line 1800 111 888, the crisis textline, 50808 and NGO online supports such as those provided by MyMind, Turn2Me, Jigsaw and many others.

I would also like to draw your attention to the Government's well-being campaigns, including Keep Wellto promote physical and mental well in the safest possible ways.

Furthermore, all aspects of mental health services will be improved and developed, through implementation of the national mental health policy Sharing the Vision. Sharing the Visionaims to enhance the provision of mental health services and supports across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, during the period 2020-2030.

The NIMC Steering Committee, tasked with overseeing the implementation of Sharing the Visionand chaired by Mr John Saunders was established in December. The work of Steering Committee is progressing.

Mental Health continues to be a priority for me in my role as Minister with responsibility for mental health and for Government as a whole. As part of Budget 2021, I secured an additional €50 million funding for mental health, bringing the annual budget to in excess of €1 billion. Of the additional €50 million, €23 million is allocated to implementation of many of Sharing the Vision’s short-term recommendations and €15m to address the additional challenges posed by Covid-19.

I would like to assure the Deputy that I and the Government remain fully committed to enhancing the provision of mental health services and supports.