Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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623. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the public inquiry into nursing home deaths during Covid-19. [58827/22]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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624. To ask the Minister for Health the last date that he met with bereaved families of those who died in nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic. [58828/22]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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625. To ask the Minister for Health if he will meet with the bereaved families of residents of a nursing home (details supplied). [58829/22]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 623 to 625, inclusive, together.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented challenge across our health services and none more so than in our nursing homes. The pandemic has been a hugely difficult time for all residents, relatives, and staff of nursing homes and I would like to express my condolences to all those who have lost a loved one during this period.

In relation to the meeting request referred to by the Deputy, I held a meeting with the group Care Champions and some of those who had lost loved ones in the nursing home specified by the Deputy on Monday 12 July 2021. The concerns raised by family members were heard at the meeting and a comprehensive response issued. My Department has also received, and continues to receive and respond to, ministerial representations from family members of those who died during COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes.

Since the start of the pandemic, the national response has continuously evolved to take account of emerging evidence and learnings both nationally and internationally. Throughout, this has included a specific focus on older people, in particular, those resident in nursing homes.

Significant supports were put in place for nursing homes, and the situation at both a local and a national level was kept under ongoing and active review. An independent Nursing Homes Expert Panel was established early in the pandemic to examine the management of COVID-19 in nursing homes and provide real-time learnings and recommendations to inform the ongoing response. The Expert Panel reported in August 2020 and significant progress has been made in implementing its recommendations.

The Taoiseach has indicated that a comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will be undertaken which will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic over the past 2 years. This will help ensure that we are in a better, stronger position if another pandemic or another similar type of emergency arrives. Consideration is being given as to what the best model for this evaluation will be.

Separately, the Minister for Health has stated that he believes that a review of the management and impact of COVID-19 in nursing homes is warranted. He has asked the Department to consider the options available for undertaking such a review, taking account of the experience of, and learnings, from other review processes undertaken in recent years.