Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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372. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons who have entered mandatory hotel quarantine; the number of those who have done so as a result of not having a PCR test; the number of those who have tested positive for Covid-19 from all those entering hotel quarantine; the number of those who have tested positive for Covid-19 from among those entering hotel quarantine for not having a PCR test upon arrival; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31209/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Mandatory hotel quarantine (MHQ) has been introduced as one element of Ireland’s public health measures to combat the transmission of Covid-19 and to protect the population when there is a high risk of importation of infection from Covid-19 and from challenges posed by new variants of concern.

Mandatory hotel quarantine is required for applicable travellers who have been in the designated states, including those who have transited through a port or airport in a designated state, even if they stay airside or portside, in the 14 days prior to their arrival in Ireland.

As of 11 July, a total of 8,359 people have entered Mandatory Hotel Quarantine accommodation since it began on 26 March. As of 9 July, 349 of these have tested positive for Covid-19 in MHQ.

Applicable travellers must also enter mandatory hotel quarantine if they do not provide evidence of a negative result from a Covid-19 RT-PCR test. As of 11 July, a total number of 986 people arrived into Ireland without evidence of a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test. Provided applicable travellers have not been in a designated State in the 14 days prior to arrival in Ireland, their period of quarantine will cease once a ‘not detected’ result from a Covid-19 RT-PCR test is returned.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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373. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons entering hotel quarantine who have submitted an appeal to their detention; the number of those who were successful in their appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31210/21]

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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374. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons appealing their detention in mandatory hotel quarantine on the basis of compassionate grounds; the numbers of such appeals that are a success for the travellers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31211/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 373 and 374 together.

The Health Act 1947, as amended, provides for travellers to request a review of decisions relating to their quarantine to permit them to leave a designated facility. Requests for review can be based only on a limited number of grounds and public health remains a paramount consideration. All such decisions are determined in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Such requests for review are considered by independent appeals officers and decisions are provided within a 24-hour period. This review system provides an independent and efficient means for any person who is required to quarantine at a designated facility but who contends that they should not be required to complete quarantine in a designated facility.  

As of 12 July, a total of 2839 appeals have been submitted by persons who have entered Mandatory Hotel Quarantine accommodation since it began on 26 March.  Of these, 417 have been granted; 56 of which were granted on humanitarian grounds.