Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
616. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons residing in direct provision centres that have tested positive for Covid-19 in 2020. [44770/20]
View answer617. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Covid-19 outbreaks experienced by direct provision centres to date. [44771/20]
View answer618. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of direct provision centres currently experiencing outbreaks of Covid-19. [44772/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 616 to 618, inclusive, together.
Responsibility for the recording of the number of people who test positive for COVID-19 lies with the Department of Health. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) does not confirm positive test results of any person. With regard to medical information such as who should be tested and when and the release of data relating to same, these are matters for the HSE in a public health context. My Department's priority is the health of residents, staff and the wider community and it is working very closely with the HSE to manage the challenges of this public health crisis.
IPAS and the HSE have put in place a range of measures in all of our Accommodation Centres to address issues relating to COVID-19 should they arise. These measures have included:
- Provision for self-isolation facilities in Accommodation Centres and offsite self-isolation facilities;
- Provision of a free, confidential and independent support telephone line for residents operated by the Jesuit Refugee Service;
- Increased capacity to support physical and social distancing ensuring no more than 3 non-related persons share a bedroom;
- Enhanced cleaning regimes and provision of PPE to all accommodation centres;
- Regular communications and information on public health advice to residents and centre managers;
- Cocooning of all medically vulnerable and over 65 residents;
- Accommodation scheme for healthcare workers;
- IPAS Living with COVID Plan which clearly explains how each of the five levels of restrictions in the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021 affects residents and visitors to centres.
Information regarding outbreaks of COVID-19 are published weekly by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC). Details of outbreaks in International Protection Accommodation Centres can be found in table 5 at the following link:
https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/surveillance/covid-19outbreaksclustersinireland/COVID-19%20Weekly%20Outbreak%20Report_Week532020_v1.0_04012021_WebVersion.pdf
I can assure the Deputy that the health and well-being of all residents and staff of accommodation centres for International Protection applicants are very high priorities for my Department.
