Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1063. To ask the Minister for Health the funding that is being specifically allocated to support individual nursing homes in implementing the Covid-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53115/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In Budget 2022 €30 million will be provided for new developments for Older Person’s Services of which €17.6 million will be allocated for the implementation of the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel Report, with a focus on Community Support Teams, safe staffing and safeguarding of residents. Details of how this will be delivered in 2022 will be finalised as part of the National Service Plan process.

Nursing homes may also benefit from the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) which was established in April 2020 as a temporary administrative measure in response to the challenges faced by the nursing home sector at the start of the pandemic. As of 27th October 2021, 8,134 claims had been submitted as part of the Scheme. In total, €134.5 million has been made available under TAPS between 2020 and 2021.

While applications for standard assistance have not been accepted since the end of June when the Scheme ended, TAPS has broadly fulfilled its temporary purpose of providing financial support to nursing homes to address COVID-19. Although the risk is greatly reduced, it has not been completely eliminated, therefore the outbreak assistance element of the Scheme will continue to be available to nursing homes until the end of 2021.

As the pandemic has continued, many further support measures for private and voluntary nursing homes have been made available through the Health Service Executive (HSE), including the provision of PPE on a no-cost basis, the implementation of serial testing, the support and engagement of COVID-19 response teams and public health teams, the temporary accommodation scheme for nursing home staff and further supports. Many of these supports will continue to be provided by the HSE for the foreseeable future.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1064. To ask the Minister for Health if the fair deal budget for 2022 will be cognisant of the escalating cost environment nursing homes are operating in and recognise cost increases within it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53116/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The amount of funding allocated for Long Term Residential Care in Budget 2022 is in excess of €1.049 billion which represents an increase of €5million on 2021 levels of funding. In Budget 2022 €30 million will be provided for new developments for Older Person’s Services of which €17.6 million will be allocated for the implementation of the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel Report, with a focus on Community Support Teams, safe staffing and safeguarding of residents. Details of how this will be delivered in 2022 will be finalised as part of the National Service Plan process.

The Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) was established in April 2020 as a temporary administrative measure in response to the challenges faced by the nursing home sector at the start of the pandemic. As of 27th October 2021, 8,134 claims had been submitted as part of the Scheme. In total, €134.5 million has been made available under TAPS between 2020 and 2021.

While applications for standard assistance have not been accepted since the end of June when the Scheme ended, TAPS has broadly fulfilled its temporary purpose of providing financial support to nursing homes to address COVID-19. Although the risk is greatly reduced, it has not been completely eliminated, therefore the outbreak assistance element of the Scheme will continue to be available to nursing homes until the end of 2021.

As the pandemic has continued, many further support measures for private and voluntary nursing homes have been made available through the Health Service Executive (HSE), including the provision of PPE on a no-cost basis, the implementation of serial testing, the support and engagement of COVID-19 response teams and public health teams, the temporary accommodation scheme for nursing home staff and further supports. Many of these supports will continue to be provided by the HSE for the foreseeable future.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1065. To ask the Minister for Health the advice that was received from National Immunisation Advisory Committee regarding plans to provide staff in nursing homes with a booster vaccination; if he considers this group that are in contact with high-risk patients should receive such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53117/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On 8 September, I announced an update to the Covid-19 vaccination programme following advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).

The NIAC has recommended a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (irrespective of whether the primary vaccination course was of an mRNA or adenoviral vector) for residents aged 65 years and older living in Long Term Residential Care Facilities and for those aged 80 years and older living in the community. The booster dose can be given after a minimum interval of six months following completion of the primary vaccination schedule. I have accepted this advice and the HSE has made the necessary arrangements to operationalise these recommendations with the booster rollout now underway.

The NIAC has now recommended that a booster dose of Pfizer/BioNTech should be offered to all those aged 60-79 who have completed their primary vaccination course with any Covid-19 vaccination. The booster dose should be ideally given 6 months following completion of the primary vaccination schedule (with a minimum interval of 5 months).

The NIAC continues to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines for those with waning immunity and reduced effectiveness in other groups, such as those with co-morbidities (under 60 years of age) and healthcare workers and will make further recommendations if required. I have asked the Chief Medical Officer to ensure that the NIAC examine whether there is a clinical need for healthcare workers to receive booster vaccines.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1066. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the antigen testing initiative that was rolled out for select nursing homes; if he will share their views on the roll out of testing in nursing homes across the country, with the view of adding to the suite of measures to protect nursing home residents and staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53118/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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A staff self-testing programme in Residential Care Facilities (RCFs) for Older Persons has been developed under the guidance of Directors of Public Health.

Testing commenced from 20th September onwards with 52 RCFs registered to 21st October.

The aim of the programme, running for 4 weeks initially in facilities in Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Wicklow and Dublin North City and County, is to test the operational feasibility of using antigen self-testing within this sector as a tool, alongside other tools such as vaccination and infection prevention and control measures to assist in reducing in the number or size of outbreaks.

Of these, 39 have commenced testing and reporting results via the online system, with 3,685 negative results and 2 positives reported as of 21st October. Both positive cases were confirmed on PCR testing.

Rapid antigen testing can play a role as another tool in Ireland’s response to COVID-19, and the Department of Health, NPHET and the HSE continue to monitor their potential utility, and explore further how they can support the existing testing programme where appropriate.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1067. To ask the Minister for Health the plans at community level and the dedicated funding for the winter period that will be provided to support and protect nursing homes and their residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53119/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, 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.