Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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296. To ask the Minister for Health if she is concerned that guidelines for the treatment and management of Covid-19 were not issued to GP's until 27 April 2020, ninety days after the first case of Covid was recorded in Europe on 24 January 2020; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55632/25]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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298. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the hospital guidelines during Covid in place on or before 23 March 2020 expressly directed the use of hydroxychloroquine as an antiviral treatment; the reason NPHET included it in their treatment guidelines for hospital patients and at the same time requested that it should not be used by GPs in the community or in the nursing homes the very place where it was most badly needed and where it has been safely prescribed by GPs in the community for many decades; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55634/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 298 together.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) was an established mechanism for coordinating the health sector response to significant public health emergencies. It facilitated the sharing of information between the Department of Health and its agencies. Throughout its existence, the NPHET for COVID-19 oversaw and provided national direction, guidance, support and expert advice on the development and implementation of a strategy to contain COVID-19 in Ireland.

In particular, the NPHET played a critical role in closely and continuously monitoring the evolving impact of COVID-19 on Ireland’s population, as well as the health service’s capacity, performance, and ability to respond.

The decisions and recommendations of the NPHET are published in full here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/collections/minutes-and-agendas-from-meetings-of-the-nph....

As the Deputy will be aware, a COVID-19 Evaluation Panel has been established. This is an independent, non-statutory evaluation, with a wide remit that will incorporate pandemic responses across hospitals, the community and nursing homes, along with wider economic and societal impacts.

With respect to the development of National Clinical Guidelines (NCGL), the Health Service Executive (HSE) are responsible for the development and updating of NCGLs. As such, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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297. To ask the Minister for Health if she is concerned that treatment guidelines for the hospital sector had been issued by NPHET and were in place and fully operational several months prior to the issuing of guidelines for the nursing home sector on 27 April 2020; the reason for the delay in issuing guidelines to the nursing home sector; if she has sought an explanation for the delay in the issuing of guidelines for the sector, bearing in mind that several hundred nursing home residents had died prior to the eventual issuing of guidelines on 27 April 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55633/25]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The vulnerability of residents living in nursing home settings was identified early in the pandemic, and the overall national response to COVID-19 had a specific and sustained focus on supporting residents and staff in nursing homes throughout all phases of the pandemic.

I would like to clarify to the Deputy that significant structured support and guidance was provided to the nursing home sector in the early stages of the pandemic and before the specified date in the Deputy's question. This included:

• Nursing homes were a constant focus of NPHET discussions and recommendations from early March – The decisions and recommendations of the NPHET are published in full here: Minutes and agendas from meetings of the NPHET: COVID-19
• Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control (AMRIC) guidance specific to Infection Prevention and Control Guidance in nursing homes, including outbreak control, which was published on 21 March 2020. This guidance was regularly reviewed and updated many times over the forthcoming months as the disease evolved throughout the pandemic.
• Visiting restrictions in nursing homes were introduced by NPHET in March 2020, and substantial guidance for providers was developed by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), which was regularly reviewed and updated throughout the pandemic.

• Substantial support and advice through the Departments of Public Health and Outbreak Control Teams;
• Multidisciplinary clinical support at the Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) level through 23 COVID-19 Response Teams;
• The provision of free PPE and oxygen from the HSE to private nursing homes.
• HSE Planned programme of serial testing of all staff in nursing homes.
• Access and mobilisation of HSE staff from community and acute hospitals to nursing homes.
• The HSE provided free temporary accommodation to nursing home staff.
• The Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) was established for private and voluntary nursing homes to contribute to their preparedness, resilience, and management of COVID-19 outbreaks.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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299. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the IMC president (details supplied) did not inquire into nursing home fatalities, when this matter was brought to her attention in writing, upon the resignation of a council member as far back as April 2020; if she has engaged with the IMC in relation to this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55635/25]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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300. To ask the Minister for Health the reason her Department ignored concerns raised in April 2020, by a member of the IMC in relation to the catastrophic loss of life within the nursing home sector; the reason this matter was not investigated (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55636/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Reply not received from Department.