Nursing homes have embedded additional measures into their day-to-day care to enhance the protection of residents and staff due to the pandemic. The scheme to support them, namely, the temporary assistance payment scheme, TAPS, is to cease on 30 June. Can the Taoiseach confirm that this scheme will continue, particularly as intensified infection prevention control measures will remain in place in nursing homes and there will be enhanced safety measures for residents, staff and visitors? Removing the scheme would be akin to the decision to not initially prioritise nursing homes. Will the Taoiseach give a commitment that the TAPS will continue, as it stands, until the recommendations of the expert group on Covid-19 in nursing homes are implemented and the relevant resources provided?

I thank the Deputy. It is important to point out that according to the most recently available HSE data from 10 May, more than 6,675 applications have been processed under TAPS and €93.9 million in direct financial support has been provided to the nursing home sector. In total, €42 million has been made available for this year while €92 million was provided in 2020. There are also additional supports available for PPE, Covid response teams and so on. The good news is that this was never meant to be a permanent scheme; it is a temporary scheme. There has been a substantial improvement in the levels of the virus in nursing homes. Serial testing is indicating very low levels of the virus. Clearly, as society begins to reopen, these supports will be reviewed and the Minister for Health and his Department will be in touch with the nursing home sector to work that out.