Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
1222. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health when his Department will publish the second National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 2021- 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42111/21]
View answerIreland's second National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021-2025 is under development and the actions related to human health are being currently being finalised with stakeholders. The new plan will continue to be based on the five strategic objectives as outlined in the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, published by the World Health Organization in 2015.
As with the first Plan, it will be based on the One Health approach, which includes input across the human health, animal health and environment sectors to promote a synergistic response to the challenges presented by Antimicrobial Resistance. The timelines for the development of the second National Action Plan were impacted by the COVID-19 response during 2020. The experiences from the COVID-19 response provided an important context which has now been captured as a key input to the second plan to inform the human health actions. The new Plan will cover the period from this year through to 2025.
Antimicrobial Resistance remains a key priority and has been highlighted in National Risk Assessment reports since 2014. The COVID-19 response has provided a unique opportunity to further understand emerging infectious diseases. It has shown a particular role for infection prevention and control, which remains an enabler for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 care. Building on previous investment, significant funding has been provided in both 2020 and 2021 to further the provision of infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship in an integrated way across acute and community health and social care services. This is also in line with the recommendations from the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel Report.
Substantial progress has now been made on the development of the Ireland's second National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance and my Department is working with One Health stakeholders to finalise and prepare the Plan for publication in the coming months.
