Last night I was preparing to raise an agricultural matter but this morning, unfortunately, I got a phone call on my way here from a director of nursing who was distressed and who felt helpless. The person was actually crying because they could not do anything as they were self-isolating. In a nursing home in my constituency, 25 of the 27 residents have tested positive. Unfortunately, one of the residents has died. Of the eight nursing staff, seven have tested positive. Ten of the 11 care assistants have tested positive. Those who run the home went through the protocols and contacted the HSE.

They were told not to panic and get agency staff. There are no agency staff, however. The one nurse and the one care assistant who have not tested positive did 14 hours yesterday. The HSE promised staff this morning but nobody showed up. This morning, two residents were admitted to hospital. This nursing home is looking at having to send the rest of its patients to hospital because the HSE did not send any staff to help it out.

HIQA was informed and every protocol was followed. The spin, however, that came from the HSE to all politicians of what would be done when our elderly were in trouble has not been adhered to. Does the Tánaiste think what has gone on there to old people in my constituency in the west is right? Does he think after what the HSE has done in this that it is fit for purpose? I would like to hear what the Tánaiste has to say.

I am afraid I do not have any information about the nursing home he raised or the current situation there. The Deputy will forgive me if it is not possible for me to comment on or answer his questions without knowing any of the facts. I will certainly make inquiries about it. Without knowing anything about the nursing home or anything about what is happening there, it would be inappropriate for me to try to answer questions about something about which I have no knowledge.

What I do know is that the HSE has put in many protocols and supports to help nursing homes over the past couple of months. The Deputy will be aware of the serial testing that happens in nursing homes. Ireland was one of the first countries to regularly test residents and staff in order that outbreaks can be detected and dealt with early. Additional funding has been provided for nursing homes through the nursing homes support scheme. Where possible and where asked for, I understand the HSE can provide staff and, in some cases, can even take over the clinical governance of a nursing home. That happened back in the spring.

Again, however, without knowing anything about this particular situation, it is really not possible for me to speak to it.

The Tánaiste said he does not know the facts. I am giving him the facts. I did not stand up here to make things up. I have talked to the director of nursing in the nursing home. They have one care assistant and one nurse to try to run that nursing home. These are the facts. Whether the Tánaiste wants to check it somewhere else, that is fine. I do not go telling the Tánaiste something that is not accurate, however.

Does he think it is acceptable that the HSE promised staff this morning and they did not come? Does he think it is acceptable that over the past number of days when the HSE was contacted, it said not to panic and get agency staff? The dogs on the street know agency staff are not available. If I give the Tánaiste the details after Leaders' Questions, will he personally intervene in this case? Every evening when we look at the figures, we look at the number of people in hospitals. We are now looking at 22 or 23 more people being sent to hospital because of a lack of staff, staff the HSE said it would send. The numbers are going up in the hospitals because the HSE said it would help out the nursing homes when they hit problems but it is not adhering to that.

I do not doubt the Deputy's sincerity or veracity for a moment but this is not an issue that I know about I do not know even the name of the nursing home. If the Deputy wants to provide me with more information, I will certainly make contact with the CEO of the HSE about it and follow up on it.