Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 July 2021

Wednesday, 14 July 2021

Questions (320)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

320. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the cost to date to the HSE of the Covid-19 tracker application; the daily numbers checking in their Covid-19 status; the number of close contacts identified as a result of the app in the past five months; his views on whether its usefulness is undermined at this stage given the very limited numbers routinely checking in their status or leaving their tracker on continuously to aid identification of close contacts; if a case has been made to end the service or to encourage the public through a publicity drive to re-engage with application given the dangers of the Indian strain of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30802/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyberattack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.