Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 June 2022
197. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason that grade IV staff employed by a company (details supplied) in the data processing department of the contact management programme are being retained while employees on an equivalent pay scale in the contract tracing department are not being retained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34809/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra198. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the contract tracing department in the contact management programme will be reduced to 132 employees at grade III and 9 at grade IV; if grade III vacancies will be filled through an open recruitment campaign or from the existing staff pool in the programme; if experience in contact tracing will be a requirement for these positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34810/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 198 together.
Changes to COVID-19 testing and tracing as part of the overall transition arrangements for the pandemic were approved by the Government in February 2022. There is no longer a public health rationale or need for extensive testing, case finding and tracing of infection to reduce COVID-19 transmission. The focus now is on mitigation of the severe impacts of COVID-19 for those most vulnerable to the disease and those with risk factors who may benefit from specific interventions. Full details of the current public health advice are available on the website of the HSE at www.hse.ie. The public health advice relating to testing and tracing is kept under continuing review having regard to the evolving epidemiological situation, the impact of the disease on healthcare utilisation and outcomes, the vaccination status of the population, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) guidance and other international evidence and guidance.
The HSE is working to implement this advice which is invariably leading to consolidation of resources around the country as the HSE moves through the transition phases of the programme. The arrangements with regard to the number of positions available, and the nature of the work that will be carried out is a matter for the Health Service Executive, and I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in this regard, as soon as possible.
