Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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2031. To ask the Minister for Health the matters included in the National Pandemic Management Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19632/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 was published by the Government on 15 September and sets out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19 in a range of areas. On 23rd February, 2021, the Government published the revised plan: Covid 19 Resilience & Recovery 2021.These plans encapsulate the national strategy for management of the COVID19 pandemic.

The Plan for Living with COVID-19 continues to provide an appropriate mechanism to guide decision-making, is supplemented by more detailed sectoral guidance in relation to measures that apply at each level of the Framework. This 5-level framework sets out what is permitted for social or family gatherings, work and public transport, bars, hotels and restaurants, exercise activities and religious services, at that moment in time.

Covid 19 Resilience & Recovery 2021: The Path Aheadreviews the learnings from our experience to date, considers the enormous impacts our efforts to manage and suppress the disease have had on our economy and on our society and sets out a cautious and measured approach to the easing of restrictions over the coming months.

Level 5 restrictive measures currently remain in place. Any measures introduced at any level of the Plan are aimed at limiting the spread and damage of COVID-19 and are necessary to protect our key priorities of supporting and maintaining health and social care services, keeping education and childcare services open and protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities.

The Government announced a slight easing of restrictions from 12 April in recognition of the significant impact that the extended period of Level 5 restrictions is having on people. The focus of this easing of measures is on enabling more outdoor activities in order to improve the health and wellbeing of society. 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.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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2032. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated from March 2020 to date for the National Pandemic Management Strategy; if a breakdown of the areas to which the funding was allocated will be provided in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19633/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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COVID-19 Funding 2020

The budget allocation for spending on COVID-19 measures by the Department of Health through the HSE in 2020 was €2,511m (comprising €2,291m current and €220m capital).

The HSE’s current allocation for COVID-19 measures in 2020 of €2,291m included: €920m for personal protective equipment; €330m for private hospital capacity; €292m for COVID-19 testing & contact tracing; €190m for acute hospitals; €140m for GP services; €80m for the Temporary Payment Assistance Scheme for private nursing homes; €76m for payment of student nurses and medical interns; €45m for accommodation and isolation facilities; and €218m for other measures including community costs, disability services, hospices, the National Ambulance Service and other miscellaneous supports.

The HSE’s capital allocation for COVID-19 measures in 2020 of €220m included: €125m for buildings and related equipment; €45m for other equipment; €32m for ventilators and €18m for ICT.

Further details of the HSE’s 2020 allocation are available in the final Letter of Determination for 2020, issued to the HSE on 29/12/2020.

COVID-19 Funding 2021

The budget allocation for spending on COVID-19 measures by the Department of Health through the HSE in 2021 is €1,831m (comprising €1,676m current and €155m capital). In addition to this allocation, a contingency fund of €240m held by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is available to be re-allocated to the HSE for COVID-related measures if required, bringing the total funding available to the HSE in 2021 to €2,071m. A further amount of €50m has been allocated to the Department of Health for non-HSE related COVID expenditure in 2021, bringing the total allocation for all COVID-related measures in 2021 to €2,121m.

The HSE’s current allocation for COVID-19 measures in 2021 of €1,676m includes: €450m for personal protective equipment; €200m for the COVID vaccination programme; €445m for testing & contact tracing (excluding €205m available from DPER contingency if required); €210m for the Access to Care Fund; €42m for the Temporary Payment Assistance Scheme for private nursing homes; and €329m for other measures including home care, mental health supports, disability services, cancer restoration services, homelessness services, GP costs, hospices and infection prevention & control.

The HSE’s capital allocation for COVID-19 measures in 2021 of €155m includes: €130m for building, equipping and furnishing of health facilities; and €25m for ICT.

Further details of the HSE’s 2021 allocation are set out in the revised Letter of Determination for 2021, issued to the HSE on 04/01/2021.

The non-HSE related allocation for COVID-19 measures of €50m held by the Department in 2021 includes: €30m for the National Treatment Purchase Fund; €10m for costs related to the ePassenger Locator Form; €5.0m for the Healthy Ireland programme; and €5.0m for HIQA’s Nursing Home Expert Review in relation to the COVID-19 response.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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2033. To ask the Minister for Health the number of claims made and proceedings initiated against the HSE or hospital groups by persons or groups of persons whose loved ones died after contracting Covid-19 in a hospital setting. [19636/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive. The State Claims Agency has provided me with the following information, in respect of the Deputy's question.

The information contained within this report was extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) according to the below criteria:

- Hospital setting is interpreted as claims notified to the SCA which relate to incidents occurring within the Acute Hospital Group.

- Claims arising could relate to the death of a service user or staff member.

The number of claims notified to the SCA which relate to the death of a family member/dependent as a result of contracting Covid-19 in the Acute Hospital Group setting is 1.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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2034. To ask the Minister for Health the number of claims made and proceedings initiated against the HSE by persons or groups of persons whose loved ones died after contracting Covid-19 in HSE run nursing homes or community hospital settings. [19637/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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2035. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons that contracted Covid-19 in hospitals since the start of the pandemic. [19638/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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2036. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons that have died after contracting Covid-19 in hospitals since the start of the pandemic. [19639/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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2037. To ask the Minister for Health if under the new regulations regarding construction of healthcare facilities will be allowed undergo renovations. [19644/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Following a government decision regarding the Level 5 restrictions and the making of the Health Act 1947 (Section 31a - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) (Amendment) Regulations 2021, the development an essential health and related project is comprehended within the exemptions to closure. Paragraph 5 of Part 2 to the Schedule to the Health Act 1947 (Section 31a - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020 (as amended) details the construction and development that is included in the definition of an essential service and whereby a worker may leave his or her place of residence and attend a premises for the provision of that essential service.

The recent amendment to the Regulations significantly enhances and expands upon “Construction and Development” deemed to be an essential service under Part 2 of the Schedule to the Original Regulations.

The amending regulation can be found here.

Critical construction of essential health projects are exempt from restrictions as the development of an essential health or related project isn’t dependent on it being linked to preventing, limiting, minimising or slowing the spread of Covid-19.