Thomas Gould
Ceist:1474. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the date of the last meeting of the NPHET vulnerable people subgroup. [14352/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 24 March 2021
Ceisteanna (1474)
Freagraí scríofa
The NPHET Sub-group on Vulnerable Persons met on the following dates:
6th, 11th, 18th, 25th March 2020;
1st, 15th, 29th April;
7th, 20th May;
3rd, 24th June (final meeting).
The agendas and minutes of these meetings are published on the Department of Health website:
https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/301f5e-the-national-public-health-emergency-team-nphet-subgroup-vulnerable-/
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 as required.
I trust that the above information addresses the Deputy’s question satisfactorily.