Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2020

Tuesday, 6 October 2020

Ceisteanna (680, 750)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

680. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of deaths that have been declassified following incorrect classification as being Covid-19 related (details supplied); the correct number of deaths associated with Covid-19; his views on whether it is correct to classify all deaths as Covid-19 deaths simply due to a positive test result in cases in which a death may have not been related to Covid-19; if the public will be informed of the number of deaths that fall into this category; the number of Covid-19-related deaths that are subject to a coroner's report; the number of deaths have been deemed to be incorrectly classified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28392/20]

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

750. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have died as a result of Covid-19; the number of persons who have died of other illness but also had Covid-19; the number of persons who died of other illness who had Covid-19 but who were Covid-19 asymptomatic, in the last year. [28779/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 680 and 750 together.

Since the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) met for the first time, a commitment was given to collect and publish as much relevant data as possible while ensuring individual patient confidentiality is maintained at all times. While the nature and scale of the COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented, the collection of timely and comprehensive data has been instrumental in developing the health service response to Covid-19 and to the advice provided by NPHET and the Department of Health to assist Government decision-making in the wider response to the disease in Ireland.

It should be noted that in Ireland, data are collected on COVID-19 related mortality for both lab confirmed and probable cases, in line with recommendations from the World Health Organisation and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in both hospitals and the community. It should also be noted that collection of COVID-19 related mortality data in Ireland exceeds that of many other countries in the world .

The Deputy should note that comprehensive national statistics, information, and data about Covid-19 is published on a daily basis on the Department of Health website at www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-health/ and on the Covid-19 Data Hub and Dashboards available at https://covid19ireland-geohive.hub.arcgis.com/. The published data are based on official figures provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and the Health Service Executive (HSE). All datasets, charts and maps are updated on an on-going basis and in line with newly published data.

I would also direct the Deputy to the CSO website for access to a range of data relating to Covid-19 including the numbers of diagnosed cases and mortality data. This is available on the CSO Covid-19 Information Hub at www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-covid19/covid-19informationhub/ and, in particular, at www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/br/b-cdc/covid-19deathsandcasesseries12/.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.