Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1626. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if reports in the media (details supplied) in relation to the amount that was spent by the HSE on personal protective equipment. PPE, are correct; the amount that the HSE was given sanction for; the amount that the HSE spent in 2020 on PPE; and if he will quantify the spending by the HSE in each of the past ten years in cases in which no Ministerial or Departmental approval was provided. [39599/22]
View answerThe HSE spent approximately €920m on personal protective equipment throughout 2020.
An amount of €253 was sanctioned initially, with a further €670m sanctioned on 23 July 2020.
The challenge Ireland faced in sourcing PPE in the early stages of COVID-19, in an exceptionally competitive and highly volatile global market, was unprecedented. Throughout this period, demand for PPE was 100 times higher than normal and prices were up to 20 times higher. The procurement activities reflected the critical and urgent need to secure high volumes of PPE, which was instrumental in protecting the health and lives of front-line workers and patients in Ireland.
