Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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62. To ask the Minister for Health the cost to date of all Covid-19-related payments in his Department to individuals and corporate entities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15409/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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From March 2020 to 30 June 2021, the gross amount of Covid-19 related payments by my Department to external suppliers was €26.7 million. In 2020, my Department recouped €10 million of these costs from the Dormant Accounts Fund. This offset the full amount paid by my Department for its contribution to the Covid Stability Fund. The Covid Stability Fund was operated by Pobal on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Affairs to fund Covid-19 payments.

Of the remaining €16.7 million the main areas of expenditure related to communication campaigns, media and market research and the management of the electronic Passenger Locator Form. The Department of Health also hosted regular press conferences throughout 2020 and into 2021 for which equipment was rented and sign language interpreters attended.

Beginning in April 2020, my Department was responsible for disseminating urgent public health information including the printing and distributing of leaflets, posters and signs.

Costs in 2021 also include payments relating to mandatory hotel quarantine.