Skip to main content
Normal View

National Public Health Emergency Team

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2021

Wednesday, 20 January 2021

Questions (515)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

515. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will organise for the NPHET vulnerable people subgroup to be immediately reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2424/21]

View answer

Written answers

Central to the evolution of NPHET processes is the recognition that health and social care services, and indeed the wider cross-government COVID-19 response, have to become embedded and ‘mainstreamed’ in the usual operational response of organisations, as society adapts to the reality of living for the foreseeable future in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In July 2020, as part of a process examining the work of all the subgroups of the NPHET, it was deemed that the Subgroup on Vulnerable Persons had met its Terms of Reference regarding preparedness plans being in place across government for vulnerable groups, and accordingly, it was stood down. The associated ongoing work was realigned into the appropriate policy and operational functions of the Department of Health or other relevant Departments, organisations, or bodies.

Recognising that vulnerable groups can be disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and as set out in Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, the Department of the Taoiseach has convened a Senior Official Group and sub-groups as needed, to drive implementation of the Plan. This includes a Sub-group on higher risk groups to monitor the spectrum of issues that need to be addressed in relation to groups at higher risk of COVID-19. These groups support the COVID-19 Oversight Group and the Cabinet Committee on the Government Response to COVID-19. The Subgroup on higher risk groups meets on a regular basis.

As part of the work of the Sub-group, relevant Departments have reviewed the oversight, management and reporting structures, guidance, mitigation plans, and communications structures in place for the various higher-risk groups.

The Departments represented on the Sub-group are responsible for the on-going monitoring of the epidemiological data and of any outbreaks in higher risk groups within their remit based on the Weekly Report prepared by the HPSC on Outbreaks/Clusters and sectoral information systems/knowledge. Upon the Sub-group’s establishment, Departments were also requested to ensure that they have early warning systems in place for their relevant sectors and groups to deal with emerging issues. Sectoral-specific actions are led by the relevant Departments. There is ongoing bilateral contact between the Department of the Taoiseach and Sub-group members to monitor the situation. The COVID-19 Oversight group is kept informed where additional cross-government measures are required.

In line with the above mechanism, the Department of Health monitors the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable groups on an ongoing basis based on reports provided by the HSE so as to identify, at an early stage, any issues or risks arising in relation to the COVID-19 impact on these groups. Regular bilateral engagement between the Department of Health and the Department of the Taoiseach through the cross-government mechanism for higher risk groups ensures the communication of relevant information in respect of outbreak control for nursing homes, the disability and mental health sectors, and in respect of drug and alcohol services. In respect of mental health, a specific tripartite oversight group, comprising representatives from Department of Health, HSE, and the Mental Health Commission, is in place to monitor this sector. This group works together to identify potential solutions to any issues or risks arising and make follow up reports as appropriate. A number of other Government departments also report on higher risk groups, e.g., Traveller, Roma and homeless persons. This whole-of-Government approach ensures that emerging issues can be identified and acted upon.

The Department, the HSE, the HIQA, and the Mental Health Commission will continue interagency and interdepartmental collaboration, working together to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable groups and mitigate against associated risks.

I trust that the above information addresses the Deputy’s question satisfactorily.

Top
Share