theirishtimes--2020-05-28--Thousands of students yet to apply for calculated Leaving Cert

About 5,000 students have yet to apply to receive calculated grades ahead of the deadline which is due to expire at 10pm tonight .
Students are required to register in order to receive their grades and to confirm the level at which they are taking a subject .
About 56,000 of the 61,000 exam candidates had registered with the Department of Education ’ s online portal by Thursday morning .
The Department of Education is understood to be examining a number of options if this proves to be the case but a spokesman declined to comment .
Some school principals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant cohort of students who have disconnected from school may not register in time for the deadline .
For example , even in normal year , several hundred students do not turn up for Leaving Cert exams even though they are registered to sit them .
Last year , for example , about 800 registered students did not sit the exams .
Minister for Education Joe McHugh has appealed to students not to leave the registration process on the gov.ie/leavingcertificate portal to the last minute .
Schools have been asked to assist their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available for anyone experiencing trouble getting access online .
Those registering must have their examination number , Personal Public Service ( PPS ) number ( which they will use to create a four-digit Personal Identification Number ) , an email address and a mobile phone number .
Once the Department of Education has received all the necessary data , students will then be asked to opt-in through the portal to indicate if they wish to receive calculated grades .
Calculated grades have been designed as a solution to problems with sitting the Leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to Covid-19 .
Meanwhile , students are being advised to be careful when signing up to new lease arrangements for accommodation for the 2020-2021 academic year due to the lack of clarity on how third-level institutions will operate .
The Union of Students in Ireland ( USI ) and national housing charity , Threshold said students should not be left out of pocket and fighting for the return of deposits and rent if their circumstances change due to the pandemic .
While most colleges and universities have agreed to provide refunds for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accommodation companies have not provided refunds to students .
USI president , Lorna Fitzpatrick said the union has been contacted by students from every college and university across the country who have been affected by this situation .
“ Now we are getting reports of some accommodation providers offering students two months ’ free accommodation , if they pay upfront for the next academic year.
” she said .
“ It is very disturbing to see students being put under this kind of pressure .
We don ’ t even know yet what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020-2021 – will students even need this accommodation ?
”

Some school principals have expressed concern that a significant cohort of students who have disconnected from school may not register in time for the deadline.
The deadline for Leaving Cert students to register for calculated grades has been extended until noon on Friday, the Minister for Education has confirmed.
Joe McHugh said on Thursday night that his department had decided to extend the deadline to enable students who had not yet registered for the grading system to sign up.
Some 1,170 Leaving Cert students had not registered for the calculated grades by 10pm on Thursday.
Meanwhile 59,859 students had signed up for the process by Thursday’s original deadline out of a total 61,029 who had been expected to sit the Leaving Cert in 2020.
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The Minister said his department would try to follow up individually with schools if not all students had registered by Friday’s extended deadline.
“The Department is very conscious that there may be some students who, for some reason, may be unable to register despite the extended deadline,” a statement from the department noted. “We will continue to work with schools over the coming weeks to ensure that all students who wish to receive calculated grades are supported in having this option.”
Earlier, Mr McHugh said his officials will liaise with stakeholders to reach as many students as possible to ensure they have access to calculated grades if they wish to receive them.
“This is an important first step in the process of calculated grades,” Mr McHugh said.
“The focus now moves on to ensuring that schools send the data required to the department. The department has issued guidance to all schools on how to provide estimated marks for students, which emphasise the importance of fairness in this process.”
He said the grades process was “ totally new” and had been established as a result of Covid-19 and the difficulties in staging the Leaving Cert exams safely.
“It is great to see the high take-up in such a short space of time. Many thanks to all the students, teachers, parents and others who helped get the word out about this important process, fair play to everyone for their efforts,” he said.
He said there are some outstanding queries in the portal’s helpdesk system and those are being worked through. The helpdesk will continue to engage with those students over the coming days.
Mr McHugh said he hoped the calculated grades will issue as close as possible to the usual timeframe for exam results in mid-August.
Warning
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, meanwhile, has urged Mr McHugh to ensure the process for calculated grades is “fair and not exacerbate inequalities in the education system”.
The move follows concerns raised by the Labour Party’s education spokesman Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD and others over how “school profiling” could end up penalising talented students from disadvantaged schools.
School profiling is a reference to how students’ grades may be aligned to fit a school’s pattern of achievement or national patterns over a number of years.
Mr McHugh, however, has insisted that no student will be penalised on account of their background and the new system will recognise individual achievement.
In a letter to Mr McHugh, the commission strongly urged the department to consider its policy and guidance to schools on calculated grades in the “context of its statutory public sector equality and human rights duty”.
It said this is a positive obligation to eliminate discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and protect the human rights of those who use its services.
Among its “strong recommendations” to the Minister include issuing specific guidance to teachers and schools on mitigating the risk of inadvertent discrimination stemming from unconscious bias.
In addition, it said all teachers involved should, as best practice, complete online training on unconscious bias to support them in carrying out the alternative grading of students.
The IHREC’s acting chief commissioner Dr Frank Conaty stated recent research from the UK indicates students who are both high-attaining and disadvantaged are more likely to receive more pessimistic grade predictions than high-attaining students from more advantaged backgrounds.
“The Department of Education and Skills’ own guide for teachers warns against the risk of unconscious bias as it relates to ‘socio-economic or family background’,” he said.
“The stakes for individual students are too high not to make every effort to mitigate the risk that discrimination - however inadvertent - could make existing inequalities even worse.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-28--All students will not return to school even if social distancing rules are relaxed - McHugh

All students will not be able to return to school full-time in September even if social distancing rules are reduced to from two to one metres , Minister for Education Joe McHugh has said .
The Department of Education is currently drawing up measures which schools will be required to take in order to reopen safely in September .
Mr McHugh said the capacity of schools to accommodate pupils will be heavily curtailed even if social distancing rules are relaxed to one metre .
He said his officials were examining the experience of countries such as Germany , France , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a “ model ” of measures to be adopted in Irish schools will be drawn up within a fortnight .
In the meantime , he said , “ blended learning ” – or a mix of being in class and learning remotely – will be a reality in schools when they reopen in September .
“ Even with one or two-metre rule , it is difficult to see all pupils back in September , ” Mr McHugh told RTÉ ’ s Today with Sarah McInerney .
When asked why Ireland was slower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries , he said Denmark , for example , was able reopen primary schools largely on the basis that many of them share a campus with secondary schools , which have yet to reopen .
He while the focus of the Department has been on planning for the Leaving Cert and drawing up a new calculated grades process , meetings have been taking place with stakeholders over plans to reopen schools over recent weeks .
Mr McHugh also said his department was examining plans for “ summer programme ” of education for children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It will be different to the July provision model , which is availed of by about 10,000 students with disabilities , and is likely to feature a mix of remote and in-school learning .
“ One thing we ’ ve identified is that for student with special educational needs and in disadvantaged situations is that we ’ ve noticed regression , which is why we ’ re working on a summer programmes.
” Opposition politicians have criticised the lack of any firm guidance for schools and families over the reopening of schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ó Laoghaire TD that any school he has spoken to in recent weeks has received “ no contact whatsoever ” about reopening .
“ Even in ordinary circumstances , schools would be in the midst of preparation for the next school year at the moment , : ” he said .
“ Right now , that just isn ’ t possible because schools don ’ t know what policies and procedures they might be expected to put in place .
“ The reality is that we know a return to school based learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do this safely .
We also know that we will have to live with Covid-19 for some time to come and we know a vaccine is not going to appear today or tomorrow.
” He said there were major outstanding questions about how social distancing will be enforced and about capacity in school buildings that are already too crowded and if schools will required additional teachers , SNAs or other staff .
Immunology expert , Professor Luke O ’ Neill says there is no scientific evidence to say schools should not re-open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cautiously .
“ The evidence is even more compelling that children are not a major problem here , unlike flu .
The schools closure is justified if it ’ s a disease like flu because children pick that up among each other and then they go and spread it at home - that ’ s why you close schools in a flu pandemic , ” he told the Pat Kenny show on Newstalk .
“ This is a different virus with different properties – and the more it ’ s gone on , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now there ’ s really more and compelling evidence that kids aren ’ t a big source of spread.
” Prof O ’ Neill said that while the studies had , in some cases , been completed after the schools had closed , that had been taken into consideration .
“ So if lots of kids go back to school , they ’ re unlikely to be bringing it back home and secondly they pick up the infection , they get very mild symptoms and they may not even spread it anyway.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not see a reason why a child could not go to school for two days a week , which , for the mental health of the child was extremely important .
Medical studies in the past had shown that children kept out of school suffered academically at a later stage .
Vulnerable children who can not do home schooling benefit from being in school , he added .

All students will not be able to return to school full-time in September, Minister for Education Joe McHugh has said.
All students will not be able to return to school full-time in September even if social distancing rules are reduced from two metres to one, Minister for Education Joe McHugh has said.
The Department of Education is drawing up measures which schools will be required to take in order to reopen safely in September.
Mr McHugh said the capacity of schools to accommodate pupils will be heavily curtailed even if social distancing rules are relaxed to one metre.
He said his officials were examining the experiences of countries such as Germany, France, Denmark and Greece in reopening their schools and a "model" of measures to be adopted in Irish schools would be drawn up within a fortnight.
READ MORE
In the meantime, he said, “blended learning” – or a mix of being in class and learning remotely – will be a reality in schools when they reopen in September.
“Even with one- or two-metre rule, it is difficult to see all pupils back in September,” Mr McHugh told RTÉ’s Today with Sarah McInerney.
When asked why the State was slower in reopening schools than many other European countries, he said Denmark, for example, was able reopen primary schools largely on the basis that many of them share a campus with secondary schools, which have yet to reopen.
Focus
He said while the focus of the department has been on planning for the Leaving Cert and drawing up a new calculated grades process, meetings had been taking place with stakeholders over plans to reopen schools over recent weeks.
Mr McHugh also said his department was examining plans for a “summer programme” of education for children with disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
It will be different to the July provision model, which is availed of by about 10,000 students with disabilities, and is likely to feature a mix of remote and in-school learning.
“One thing we’ve identified is that for students with special educational needs and in disadvantaged situations is that we’ve noticed regression, which is why we’re working on a summer programme.”
Opposition politicians have criticised the lack of any firm guidance for schools and families over the reopening of schools.
‘No contact whatsoever’
Sinn Féin spokesman on education Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said that any school he had spoken to in recent weeks had received “no contact whatsoever” about reopening.
“Even in ordinary circumstances, schools would be in the midst of preparation for the next school year at the moment,” he said.
“Right now, that just isn’t possible because schools don’t know what policies and procedures they might be expected to put in place.
“The reality is that we know a return to school-based learning is important, but that we need to do this safely. We also know that we will have to live with Covid-19 for some time to come and we know a vaccine is not going to appear today or tomorrow.”
He said there were major outstanding questions about how social distancing would be enforced and about capacity in school buildings that are already too crowded and if schools required additional teachers, SNAs or other staff.
Scientific evidence
Immunology expert Prof Luke O’Neill said there was no scientific evidence to say schools should not reopen, but that it should be done cautiously.
“The evidence is even more compelling that children are not a major problem here, unlike flu. The schools closure is justified if it’s a disease like flu because children pick that up among each other and then they go and spread it at home – that’s why you close schools in a flu pandemic,” he told the Pat Kenny show on Newstalk.
“This is a different virus with different properties – and the more it’s gone on, the more we’ve realised this. Now there’s really more and compelling evidence that kids aren’t a big source of spread.”
Prof O’Neill said that while the studies had, in some cases, been completed after the schools had closed, that had been taken into consideration.
“So if lots of kids go back to school, they’re unlikely to be bringing it back home and secondly they pick up the infection, they get very mild symptoms and they may not even spread it anyway.”
Prof O’Neill said he could not see a reason why a child could not go to school for two days a week, which, for the mental health of the child was extremely important. Medical studies in the past had shown that children kept out of school suffered academically at a later stage.
Vulnerable children who cannot do home schooling benefit from being in school, he added.


theirishtimes--2020-05-28--‘Obvious gaps’ in oversight of private nursing home sector, HSE chief says

There are “ obvious gaps in clarity and responsibility ” in the governance and oversight of the private nursing home sector , Health Service Executive ( HSE ) chief executive Paul Reid has said .
He told a news conference in University College Dublin that the HSE was providing extraordinary levels of support to the sector during the pandemic but was not responsible for regulating it .
“ There are obvious gaps in clarity and responsibility in the overall of governance and oversight of private nursing homes in particular , ” he said .
“ Any reflection at this point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be looked at - it is a consideration for policy makers and not ourselves in the HSE , but it would seem like an obvious learning to date.
” Mr Reid was speaking after The Irish Times reported details of more than 1,000 deaths linked to 167 care homes or residential settings around the State and following the Oireacthas special committee on Covid-19 holding hearings on the response to the crisis in nursing homes this week .
“ Whatever the model is in the future , you ’ ve heard Hiqa express @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perspective the HSE don ’ t have a direct relationship on a year to year basis , we provide support as required , ” he said .
David Walsh , the HSE national director for community operations , said interaction between nursing homes and the HSE had increased during the crisis and that a closer relationship may follow in the future .
He said “ an enhanced outreach role for acute hospitals ” would be examined going forward .
“ This isn ’ t so much about the home but around the residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinical pathways to and from various other aspects of service , ” he said .
Ann O ’ Connor , the HSE ’ s chief operations officer , said that in line with the Slaintecare health service reform plan , all aspects of care in the community were being examined .
“ That will have to include people who live in nursing homes in some way that is more enhanced than what it has been heretofore , ” she said .
“ There will be a mechanism there for us to put our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the coming months ” .
Ms O ’ Connor said 852 nursing homes and residential settings were receiving support from the HSE at present , and there were seven facilities in the public and private sectors viewed as being “ a significant risk ” .
The HSE also said it has missed its target for so-called “ end to end ” testing turnaround , which measures the time taken from an appointment for a test being taken to the completion of contact tracing .
A target that 90 per cent of tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ window was set earlier in May , but the first data reported since then indicates that just 83 per cent of tests have been completed within this timeframe .
Mr Reid also gave data on the first batch of “ close contacts ” of confirmed Covid-19 cases to be tested as part of a strategy recently initiated by the HSE .
So far , 320 close contacts have been tested and 12 per cent tested positive for the disease .
Of those who tested positive , 73 per cent were asymptomatic at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Reid encouraged members of the public who discover they are close contacts of a confirmed case to avail of testing , which was a key part of the strategy to “ track the disease and ( the ) continuous drive to eliminate it ” .

There are "obvious gaps in clarity and responsibility" in the governance and oversight of the private nursing home sector, Health Service Executive (HSE) chief executive Paul Reid has said.
He told a news conference in University College Dublin that the HSE was providing extraordinary levels of support to the sector during the pandemic but was not responsible for regulating it.
“There are obvious gaps in clarity and responsibility in the overall of governance and oversight of private nursing homes in particular,” he said.
“Any reflection at this point in time would say it is something to be looked at - it is a consideration for policy makers and not ourselves in the HSE, but it would seem like an obvious learning to date.”
READ MORE
Mr Reid was speaking after The Irish Times reported details of more than 1,000 deaths linked to 167 care homes or residential settings around the State and following the Oireacthas special committee on Covid-19 holding hearings on the response to the crisis in nursing homes this week.
“Whatever the model is in the future, you’ve heard Hiqa express concerns in relation to it… from my perspective the HSE don’t have a direct relationship on a year to year basis, we provide support as required,” he said.
Closer relationship
David Walsh, the HSE national director for community operations, said interaction between nursing homes and the HSE had increased during the crisis and that a closer relationship may follow in the future.
He said “an enhanced outreach role for acute hospitals” would be examined going forward.
“This isn’t so much about the home but around the residents in the home and having the correct clinical pathways to and from various other aspects of service,” he said.
Ann O’Connor, the HSE’s chief operations officer, said that in line with the Slaintecare health service reform plan, all aspects of care in the community were being examined.
“That will have to include people who live in nursing homes in some way that is more enhanced than what it has been heretofore,” she said. “There will be a mechanism there for us to put our hands around local populations in more detail over the coming months”.
Ms O’Connor said 852 nursing homes and residential settings were receiving support from the HSE at present, and there were seven facilities in the public and private sectors viewed as being “a significant risk”.
Testing target missed
The HSE also said it has missed its target for so-called “end to end” testing turnaround, which measures the time taken from an appointment for a test being taken to the completion of contact tracing.
A target that 90 per cent of tests would be completed within a three day window was set earlier in May, but the first data reported since then indicates that just 83 per cent of tests have been completed within this timeframe.
Mr Reid also gave data on the first batch of “close contacts” of confirmed Covid-19 cases to be tested as part of a strategy recently initiated by the HSE.
So far, 320 close contacts have been tested and 12 per cent tested positive for the disease. Of those who tested positive, 73 per cent were asymptomatic at the time and 27 per cent were symptomatic.
Mr Reid encouraged members of the public who discover they are close contacts of a confirmed case to avail of testing, which was a key part of the strategy to “track the disease and (the) continuous drive to eliminate it”.


theirishtimes--2020-05-28--What exactly will happen in phase two of easing restrictions?

Phase two of the Government ’ s plan to reopen Ireland and its economy is due to come into effect on June 8th .
Here we take you through what exactly is happening , and what might happen .
Okay , more easing of the restrictions sounds good .
Is it definitely going to happen though ?
Everything depends on the extent to which the public policy measures currently in place continue to suppress the spread of the coronavirus , but , so far so good .
The numbers of new cases have been dropping and the soundings from public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So what exactly is going to change ?
First of all , the distance people are allowed travel from their homes increase from 5km to 20km , so that will give people much more freedom in terms of where they can go to exercise .
I hate exercising .
What about socialising ?
Yes , don ’ t worry , you ’ re currently allowed to meet outdoors in groups of four , as long as you remain within 5km of your home .
Again , this will increase to 20km from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the restrictions on social gatherings will ease further inphase two , so that groups of up to four people can visit other homes , as long as they observe social distancing .
Public libraries are also scheduled to reopen and sports teams will be able to hold training sessions , but not matches , as long as there is no contact and social distancing can be maintained .
That ’ s good news , but , more importantly , my parents are over 70 and I ’ m wondering when will I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also planned that small numbers of people should be allowed visit the homes of those over 70 , or medically vulnerable , wearing gloves and face coverings .
That ’ s a relief .
What else is happening ?
Restrictions on funerals have been a source of great pain for many up to this point , and , while this is likely to continue for another while yet , there is to be some easing of the rules .
Funerals will still be restricted to immediate family and close friends , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mourners present .
I ’ m sure that will be a source of some comfort for people .
What about the economy ?
A lot of people are worried about their jobs .
A risk-based approach to the re-opening of businesses and shops is to continue , with those workers who can work remotely continuing to do so , while those who can return to work while maintaining social distancing will be allowed do so .
Okay , but is there any sign of a relaxation on the two-metre rule ?
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State ’ s chief medical officer Tony Holohan has said there will be no immediate change to his advice on the current two-metre rule for physical distancing .
Fair enough .
Is there any chance there will be any more easing of the rules on June 8th ?
Government sources have expressed confidence that there may be some easing of restrictions on June 8th beyond what was originally envisaged , but they are expected to be minimal .
That sounds promising .
What kinds of things are being talked about ?
Some elements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , help for children with special needs and potentially allowing some summer camps where social distancing can be maintained , such as tennis camps , to proceed .
But they are expected to be minimal .
There is also a chance that hotels , hostels and caravan parks will be permitted to open a bit earlier to boost the domestic tourism industry .

What is happening on Monday?
From Monday, phase two of the Government’s roadmap for reopening society and business will come into effect. The Government signed off on moving to the second phase of easing Covid-19 restrictions on Friday.
What exactly is going to change and what is reopening?
From Monday people can travel anywhere within their own county or up to 20km from their home, whichever is the larger distance.
Groups of up to six can meet indoors or outdoors and groups of up to 15 people can meet for outdoor sport. Shops can reopen but will be required to operate staggered hours with dedicated times for the elderly, vulnerable and at-risk.
Shopping centres can open on June 15th but measures must be taken to ensure that people cannot congregate.
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Public libraries and playgrounds can reopen while a new summer education programme for children with special educational needs will be introduced.
Summer camps for children can also be held once there are no more than 15 people mixing together. Marts can re-open and greyhound racing can resume without spectators. Shopping malls can open on June 15th but measures must be taken to ensure that people cannot congregate.
Does this mean all stores will reopen?
No it will be up to each chain. Ikea is among the major retailers to confirm they will reopen next week with a number of anti-virus safety measures in place. Marks & Spencer also said all its non-food stores will reopen on Monday. Book retailer Eason will also reopen six stores next week on a “trial basis” .
Has the Government’s roadmap been accelerated?
Yes. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced on Friday there was a reconfiguration of the roadmap to reopen the country. There are now just two remaining phases instead of three, with phase three starting on June 29th and phase four on July 20th. Further work will be carried out in the coming days and weeks to determine which actions will take place in each phase, Mr Varadkar said.
What is expected to reopen on June 29th?
Hotels, restaurants, bars that also operate as restaurants, hostels, caravan parks, galleries and museums are all due to reopen.
Pubs and bars do not need a restaurant licence to open and can operate as if they were restaurants but people will not be sitting or gathering at bars as they normally would.
It is anticipated that places of worship will also be able to reopen from this point.
What about hairdressers and barbers?
As it stands hairdressers and barbers will not reopen until phase four on July 20th.
What about pubs?
Hundreds of pubs are expected to reopen weeks earlier than anticipated at the end of the month as if they have restaurant licences.
Can I visit my elderly parents from Monday?
Small numbers of people will be allowed to visit the homes of those over 70 and those who are medically vulnerable, but must wear gloves and face masks and maintain social distancing.
Am I still required to work from home?
Working from home should remain the norm for those who can do so, according to the Taoiseach. However, those who work on their own or whose work can be done safely while staying two metres apart from others can return.
What about funerals - can more people attend now?
Groups of up to 25 people will be allowed at funerals, up from 10 previously.
Is there any sign of a relaxation of the two-metre rule?
The State's chief medical officer Tony Holohan said last week there will be no immediate change to the current two-metre rule for physical distancing. Minister for Health Simon Harris reiterated these comments on Thursday evening.
Dr Holohan told the Cabinet that reducing the two metres to one metre could increase the risk of infection. Many businesses have said they would be unable to reopen unless the social distancing guide of two metres is reduced to one metre.


theirishtimes--2020-05-28--HSE investigates why some care homes experienced higher death rates

The HSE is investigating why some nursing home and residential care facilities experienced higher death rates from Covid-19 than others affected by outbreaks of the disease .
The health service has said it it still trying to understand why some Covid-19 outbreaks lead to greater numbers of deaths as a proportion of residents in certain care homes than in others .
It is examining trends in clusters of infection affecting outbreaks in HSE-run facilities .
Dr Siobhán Kennelly , a senior HSE adviser for older persons , said that it was “ quite unpredictable ” why the virus was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another.
” She told Wednesday ’ s briefing from the Department of Health ’ s National Public Health Emergency Team that public health officials were going to analyse individual outbreaks in HSE-run facilities and share the results of its analysis with the families of the victims first .
“ We won ’ t really know until we are well out the other end as to what was different in one facility versus another , the characteristics of the residents in those facilities , the characteristics of their environment , the characteristics of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
Previously unpublished HSE figures on more than 1,000 confirmed and suspected Covid-19 deaths in 167 settings - obtained by The Irish Times - show that some nursing homes lost larger proportions of residents to the coronavirus disease during outbreaks over the past two months .
Nursing homes and residential care facilities have borne the brunt of the pandemic , accounting for almost 63 per cent of all 1,631 Covid-19 deaths in the State .
The HSE-run Rock Nursing Unit in Ballyshannon , Co Donegal experienced 10 Covid-19 deaths at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 , the equivalent of 45 per cent of its capacity .
Padre Pio Nursing Home in Clondalkin , a privately owned facility , had 13 deaths or almost 42 per cent of the nursing home ’ s maximum occupancy of 31 .
Other homes with a high percentage of deaths as a proportion of maximum occupancy include Harvey Healthcare , also known as Grace Nursing Home , in Terenure , Dublin ( 31 per cent ) , Mullinahinch Nursing Home in Co Monaghan ( 29.6 per cent ) , Larchfield Park Nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 per cent ) and Beechwood Nursing Home in Leighlinbridge , Carlow ( 27.1 per cent ) .
Dr Kennelly said that many nursing homes were still battling outbreaks and that it took two 14-day incubation periods of the virus before an outbreak can be declared officially over .
The State ’ s chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said that in broad terms the mortality rate in nursing homes was “ not a surprise ” compared with what other countries have experienced .
He said that when an older person is infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant mortality effect irrespective of whether they are living in the community or in residential care facilities , and that is the inherent nature of this virus and the impact it has , unfortunately.
” The first Covid-19 clusters in long-term residential care facilities were identified on March 16th .
By the end of March , the number of clusters had reached 49 , including 38 in nursing homes .
By the end of April , the number had reached 376 including clusters in 220 nursing homes .
As of Wednesday , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including in 256 nursing homes - an increase of three on a day earlier .
There was an increase of 100 new Covid-19 cases in residential care facilities bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 6,492 .
There were 14 more care home deaths reported on Wednesday .
A Department of Health report published this week found the incidence rate of Covid-19 among people aged 70 and over in long-term residential care facilities to be about 45 times greater than in the general population .
The fatality rate among the over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general population was 17 per cent but 21 per cent for the over 70s living in care homes .

It is “quite unpredictable” why the virus was “particularly virulent in one particular facility versus another.” Photograph: iStock
It is “quite unpredictable” why Covid-19 is “particularly virulent in one particular facility versus another,” a senior HSE adviser for older persons has said.
“We won’t really know until we are well out the other end as to what was different in one facility versus another, the characteristics of the residents in those facilities, the characteristics of their environment, the characteristics of the care they received and beyond,” Dr Siobhán Kennelly told Wednesday’s briefing from the Department of Health’s National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
Dr Kennelly, who is the HSE national clinical adviser and group lead for older persons, said public health officials were going to analyse individual outbreaks in HSE-run facilities and share the results of its analysis with the families of the victims first.
The HSE says it is still trying to understand why some Covid-19 outbreaks have led to greater numbers of deaths as a proportion of residents in certain care homes than in others. It is examining trends in clusters of infection affecting outbreaks in HSE-run facilities.
READ MORE
Previously unpublished HSE figures on more than 1,000 confirmed and suspected Covid-19 deaths in 167 settings - obtained by The Irish Times - show that some nursing homes lost larger proportions of residents to the coronavirus disease during outbreaks over the past two months.
Higher numbers of deaths in a particular home, health sources said, may be influenced by a variety of factors. These include the pre-existing demographic mix of the home, as well as the profile of long term illnesses in the home, or whether a home is willing to accept very ill people as residents.
Nursing homes and residential care facilities have borne the brunt of the pandemic, accounting for almost 63 per cent of all 1,631 Covid-19 deaths in the State.
The HSE-run Rock Nursing Unit in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal experienced 10 Covid-19 deaths at a facility that has a maximum occupancy of 22, the equivalent of 45 per cent of its capacity.
Padre Pio Nursing Home in Clondalkin, a privately owned facility, had 13 deaths or almost 42 per cent of the nursing home's maximum occupancy of 31.
Other homes with a high percentage of deaths as a proportion of maximum occupancy include Harvey Healthcare, also known as Grace Nursing Home, in Terenure, Dublin (31 per cent), Mullinahinch Nursing Home in Co Monaghan (29.6 per cent), Larchfield Park Nursing Home in Naas, Co Kildare (28 per cent) and Beechwood Nursing Home in Leighlinbridge, Carlow (27.1 per cent).
Beechwood said while it had 16 deaths in that period, 10 were Covid-19 confirmed or suspected but another six did not have Covid-19 listed as a contributory factor in the deaths.
Dr Kennelly said that many nursing homes were still battling outbreaks and that it took two 14-day incubation periods of the virus before an outbreak can be declared officially over.
The State's chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said that in broad terms the mortality rate in nursing homes was "not a surprise" compared with what other countries have experienced.
He said that when an older person is infected, Covid-19 has an “almost predictable significant mortality effect irrespective of whether they are living in the community or in residential care facilities, and that is the inherent nature of this virus and the impact it has, unfortunately.”
The first Covid-19 clusters in long-term residential care facilities were identified on March 16th.
By the end of March, the number of clusters had reached 49, including 38 in nursing homes. By the end of April, the number had reached 376 including clusters in 220 nursing homes.
As of Wednesday, there were 461 clusters in residential care facilities, including in 256 nursing homes - an increase of three on a day earlier.
There was an increase of 100 new Covid-19 cases in residential care facilities bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 6,492. There were 14 more care home deaths reported on Wednesday.
A Department of Health report published this week found the incidence rate of Covid-19 among people aged 70 and over in long-term residential care facilities to be about 45 times greater than in the general population.
The fatality rate among the over 70s who contracted the virus in the general population was 17 per cent but 21 per cent for the over 70s living in care homes.


theirishtimes--2020-05-28--Parents dealing with more ‘tantrums and outbursts’ during Covid-19 lockdown

Parents have had to deal with many more tantrums and outbursts from their kids than normal during the coronavirus pandemic , a survey by the children ’ s charity Barnardos has found .
More than two thirds of the 2,683 respondents ( 68 per cent ) said their children missed attending school .
A third of parents said their children were arguing with them more regularly , while 38 per cent said they were finding it harder to implement rules around the house during the lockdown .
Some 38 per cent said there had been an increase in tantrums and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half of the respondents said children were less likely to stick to bedtime routines of late , with 28 per cent saying siblings were fighting more often during the pandemic .
Managing children with pent up energy was an issue for 31 per cent of the respondents .
The survey , published on Thursday , found that 84 per cent of children reported missing their friends amid school closures and restrictions on group gatherings .
A third of the parents who responded said they had been getting less sleep or exercise during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried about the health of family members and this was adding to their stress levels .
The survey found the impact was heavier on lone parents , with 28 per cent of these respondents saying they felt sad or low during the lockdown .
Families with young children were more likely to report needing additional support during the pandemic , with 15 per cent of parents with children under six falling into this category .
Overall , 14 per cent of parents said the lack of childcare support was causing additional stress in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases the balancing act between parenting and working from home had led to extra stress .
Suzanne Connolly , Barnardos chief executive , said the findings highlighted the challenges and stresses facing families during the Covid-19 restrictions .
“ The lack of childcare support is a huge contributor to this stress and hundreds of respondents reported that trying to balance parenting and working at home added a lot of pressure to the household , ” she said .
However , despite the public health crisis , half of parents who took the survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family life , she said .
“ Some families noted how the restrictions have allowed them to stop , take stock of what is important and to spend quality time together , ” she said .

Parents have had to deal with more tantrums and outbursts from their kids than normal during the coronavirus pandemic, a survey by the childrens’ charity Barnardos has found. Image: iStock.
Parents have had to deal with many more tantrums and outbursts from their kids than normal during the coronavirus pandemic, a survey by the children’s charity Barnardos has found.
More than two thirds of the 2,683 respondents (68 per cent) said their children missed attending school.
A third of parents said their children were arguing with them more regularly, while 38 per cent said they were finding it harder to implement rules around the house during the lockdown. Some 38 per cent said there had been an increase in tantrums and outbursts from their children.
More than half of the respondents said children were less likely to stick to bedtime routines of late, with 28 per cent saying siblings were fighting more often during the pandemic. Managing children with pent up energy was an issue for 31 per cent of the respondents.
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The survey, published on Thursday, found that 84 per cent of children reported missing their friends amid school closures and restrictions on group gatherings.
Less sleep
A third of the parents who responded said they had been getting less sleep or exercise during the pandemic and around half said they were worried about the health of family members and this was adding to their stress levels. The survey found the impact was heavier on lone parents, with 28 per cent of these respondents saying they felt sad or low during the lockdown.
Families with young children were more likely to report needing additional support during the pandemic, with 15 per cent of parents with children under six falling into this category.
Overall, 14 per cent of parents said the lack of childcare support was causing additional stress in the home. In a third of cases the balancing act between parenting and working from home had led to extra stress.
Suzanne Connolly, Barnardos chief executive, said the findings highlighted the challenges and stresses facing families during the Covid-19 restrictions.
Pressure
“The lack of childcare support is a huge contributor to this stress and hundreds of respondents reported that trying to balance parenting and working at home added a lot of pressure to the household,” she said.
However, despite the public health crisis, half of parents who took the survey reported being satisfied or extremely satisfied with family life, she said.
“Some families noted how the restrictions have allowed them to stop, take stock of what is important and to spend quality time together,” she said.
‘More angry outbursts, more crying, more feelings’: What you say about how children are handling lockdown


theirishtimes--2020-05-28--Temperatures could reach 28 degrees today ahead of sunny bank holiday weekend

Temperatures on Thursday could reach as high as 28 degrees , with the warm and sunny weather expected to last for the June bank holiday weekend , Met Éireann has said .
Members of the public have been advised to exercise caution around water safety due the conditions , while the Irish Cancer Society has said it is important to remember to wear sunscreen when outdoors .
The weather over the next four days will stay dry , Met Éireann meteorologist Jean Byrne has said , with the best of the conditions reserved for Thursday .
“ It is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see temperatures of 27 or 28 degrees today , ” she said .
“ Highest temperatures will be in the west and northwest , whereas we are expecting mid to high twenties across the bulk of the country.
” On Friday and over the weekend , it is expected to stay predominantly dry .
“ There is a chance of some light rain in the west but it ’ s an outside chance , ” she said .
“ We expect it to stay completely dry .
Temperatures will remain warm , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be along the south and east coasts .
There could be some hazy sunshine tomorrow and come cloud over the weekend , but it will generally be sunny.
” Meanwhile , the Department of Agriculture has issued a status orange warning for gorse fires .
The warning arises from increased temperatures and low rainfall levels .
Dublin Fire Brigade said firefighters from Tallaght were called to grass on fire on Wednesday , whilst a crew from Finglas fought straw bales alight in Meakstown .
The Irish Coastguard has reminded the public to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call outs in West Cork on Wednesday .
It warned the public that in spite of the high temperatures on land the sea is still cold .
Shortly after 2pm emergency services received calls when four teenage boys got in to trouble in the water in Inchydoney .
The Rescue 115 Shannon , Courtmacsherry RNLI , gardaí and the ambulance service responded .
The teens were taken from the water shortly after .
Two of the teenagers were suffering from hypothermia and required medical intervention .
Nearly an hour later Union Hall RNLI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that two swimmers were missing in Glandore in West Cork .
In a statement Union Hall RNLI said they received a report at 3.20pm yesterday that two swimmers were missing in the area .
The lifeboat ILB Margaret Bench of Solihull launched with three volunteer crew from Union Hall .
The lifeboat commenced a search in Glandore but shortly after the two swimmers arrived into the pier .
The volunteer crew were stood down and returned back to the lifeboat station at 4pm .
Also on the scene were Toe Head/Glandore Coast Guard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Launch Authority Jim Moloney said it was a “ false alarm with good intent.
” “ If you are going swimming always let someone know where you are going and what time you are due back at , and always respect the water , ” he said .

Barbara Miranda and Thalita Quaresha, from Brazil but living in Dublin 8, pictured enjoying the fine weather at Sandycove in Dublin on Thursday afternoon. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins
Thursday was the hottest day of the year so far with the highest temperature of 26.8 degrees recorded at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon.
Many parts of the west and midlands recorded temperatures in excess of 25 degrees.
The fine weather is likely to stretch into next Wednesday which means almost everyone will have a dry and sunny June bank holiday weekend.
#FireWarning
We have issued a Red Forest Fire Warning - the most extreme warning level - arising from current weather patterns and expected level of risk during the Bank Holiday weekend.
⚠Warning in place until Monday, June 1
Fire Warning: https://t.co/B8V7rPFX3g pic.twitter.com/uhCwwB6dCS — Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (@agriculture_ie) May 28, 2020
Thursday is likely to be the hottest day, but temperatures on Friday will reach highs of 24 to 25 degrees. Some rain may fall along western coastal fringes on Friday night, but no other rain is forecast for the week.
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Similar conditions can be expected on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Tuesday will be slightly cooler and temperatures will fall back to normal on Wednesday next week.
Sunbathers enjoying the fine weather at Sandycove on Thursday afternoon. Photograph: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin
There is no sign at the moment of rain which is badly needed in most parts of the country.
Restrictions on water will be extended on the Aran Islands from Monday.
Night time restrictions have already been in place on Inis Mór and Inis Oirr for a couple of weeks. They will be extended to Inis Meain from Monday.
Irish Water has stated that, as the islands’ water supply is exclusively from rain, it will have to maintain the restrictions for the coming weeks.
Irish Water’s lead engineer for Galway Tim O’Connor warned that the long-range weather forecast indicates very little rain will fall in the next four weeks and restrictions are currently necessary.
Drought
Since the Covid-19 lockdown, seven weather stations have experienced an “absolute drought” which is 15 consecutive days without rain. They are Claremorris, Belmullet, Phoenix Park, Dublin Airport, Newport, Dunsany, Finner Camp and Casement Aerodrome.
Drought-like conditions have been most apparent in Dublin where the Phoenix Park had 42 days from March 18th to April 28th in which just 5.8mm of rain fell.
Very little rain has fallen this month so far either. Just 9.5mm of rain has fallen to date; the average for May in Dublin is 59.5mm. The forecast suggests no rain will fall in the capital for the foreseeable future.
Irish Water has asked the public to conserve water. There has been a 20 per cent increase in household usage since the lockdown and the fall off in commercial and industrial use has not compensated for the extra domestic usage.
Members of the public have been advised to exercise caution around water safety during the good weather.
A five-year-old girl has been airlifted to hospital in Co Kerry on Thursday after floating a mile offshore on an inflatable lilo.
The alarm was raised after the child was pulled out to sea off Littor beach on the southern shore of the Shannon estuary in north Co Kerry.
A spokesman for Valentia Coast Guard said the Shannon Rescue 115 helicopter was called to the scene at 2.50pm on Thursday. The Kilrush RNLI lifeboat also attended the scene.
Gorse fires
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture has issued a status red warning for gorse fires for the duration of the bank holiday weekend. The warning arises from increased temperatures and low rainfall levels.
The Irish Coastguard has reminded the public to exercise caution in the water following two call outs in West Cork on Wednesday. It warned the public that in spite of the high temperatures on land the sea is still cold.
Shortly after 2pm emergency services received calls when four teenage boys got in to trouble in the water in Inchydoney.
The Rescue 115 Shannon, Courtmacsherry RNLI, gardaí and the ambulance service responded.
The teens were taken from the water shortly after. Two of the teenagers were suffering from hypothermia and required medical intervention.
Nearly an hour later Union Hall RNLI was tasked by Valentia Coastguard amid reports that two swimmers were missing in Glandore in West Cork.
In a statement Union Hall RNLI said they received a report at 3.20pm yesterday that two swimmers were missing in the area.
Lifeboat
The lifeboat ILB Margaret Bench of Solihull launched with three volunteer crew from Union Hall.
The lifeboat commenced a search in Glandore but shortly after the two swimmers arrived into the pier. The volunteer crew were stood down and returned back to the lifeboat station at 4pm. Also on the scene were Toe Head/Glandore Coast Guard Unit.
Following the call out Deputy Launch Authority Jim Moloney said it was a “false alarm with good intent.”
“If you are going swimming always let someone know where you are going and what time you are due back at, and always respect the water,” he said.
Kevin O'Hagan, cancer prevention manger with the Irish Cancer Society, said: "One of the simplest things you can do to protect your skin from UV rays is to stay in the shade particularly between 11am – 3pm, even on cloudy days as much as 90 per cent of UV rays can reach your skin and cause damage that can lead to skin cancer later in life.
“When in Ireland wear sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher from April to September to reduce your risk of skin cancer. But remember that using sunscreen alone will not give enough protection against UV rays.
“It is important to use shade, clothes and sunglasses too. In this way you get the best possible protection from UV damage.
"Finally, check with Met Éireann for the daily UV index. Get into the habit of checking the UV Index as a reminder of the need to be sun smart every day from April to September."


theirishtimes--2020-05-28--‘Ireland should take calculated risk’ in greater easing of Covid-19 restrictions

Fianna Fáil ’ s justice spokesman Jim O ’ Callaghan has called on the Government to take “ a calculated risk ” and to start easing some of the Covid-19 restrictions .
Mr O ’ Callaghan told RTÉ radio ’ s Morning Ireland that he wasn ’ t criticising the advice being given by the chief medical officer Tony Holohan .
It was Dr Holohan ’ s job to advise the Government , but the Government must take other factors into account when making decisions .
“ No matter what we do , there will be risks , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister Giuseppe Conte had said that calculated risks have to be made , “ we have to take a calculated risk .
We have to take other factors into account ” .
On Wednesday it was announced that 17 more people have died from Covid-19 in Ireland bringing the total number of deaths to 1,631 while 73 new cases brought the total number of confirmed cases to 24,803 .
It was never the intention of lockdown to stop people getting sick or catching the virus , it was so hospitals and ICUs would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Callaghan .
The Government needed to take other factors into consideration , said Mr O ’ Callaghan , such as the impact of the lockdown on children , the elderly , mental health , domestic violence and the economy – which is not just about money , he added , it was about putting protections in place “ so we can look after people ” .
Ireland ’ s planned phases go through until August 10th , he said , while Spain is going to reopen in June .
Everyone understood that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for some time , but there is a need to expedite the lifting of some restrictions , he said .
Speaking on Newstalk radio , John Halligan said the perceived benefits of lockdown would have to be weighed against its costs .
He said the economy faces devastation .
“ I ’ m not saying to abandon the complete lockdown , that would be madness , but I think the stages we have set are too far apart , we need to trust people .
We have to consider the economy , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” On the question of schools re-opening , immunology expert Luke O ’ Neill said there is no scientific evidence to say schools should not re-open , but that it should be done cautiously .
“ The evidence is even more compelling that children are not a major problem here , unlike flu .
The schools closure is justified if it ’ s a disease like flu because children pick that up among each other and then they go and spread it at home - that ’ s why you close schools in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Pat Kenny show on Newstalk .
“ This is a different virus with different properties - and the more it ’ s gone on , the more we ’ ve realised this .
Now there ’ s really more and compelling evidence that kids aren ’ t a big source of spread.
” Meanwhile , the director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties , Liam Herrick , has called for safeguards to be put in place for the introduction of the mandatory passenger locator form .
While it was reasonable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , there were concerns around issues like data protection .
Mr Herrick told RTÉ radio ’ s Morning Ireland that there are a lot of concerns about the control of personal information by the HSE and that it would be helpful to have more details about how it will operate in practice .
There may be a limited number of scenarios where a person may not be in a position to fill out the form , he added , for example if the person were claiming international protection when they arrived .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about criminal sanctions and it was felt that this was an inappropriate area for the gardaí to be involved .
More clarification would be helpful , he said .

Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesman Jim O’Callaghan has called on the Government to take “a calculated risk” and to start easing some of the Covid-19 restrictions.
Mr O’Callaghan told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that he wasn’t criticising the advice being given by the chief medical officer Tony Holohan. It was Dr Holohan’s job to advise the Government, but the Government must take other factors into account when making decisions.
“No matter what we do, there will be risks,” he said, pointing out that Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte had said that calculated risks have to be made, “we have to take a calculated risk. We have to take other factors into account”.
On Wednesday it was announced that 17 more people have died from Covid-19 in Ireland bringing the total number of deaths to 1,631 while 73 new cases brought the total number of confirmed cases to 24,803.
READ MORE
It was never the intention of lockdown to stop people getting sick or catching the virus, it was so hospitals and ICUs would not be overwhelmed, said Mr O’Callaghan.
The Government needed to take other factors into consideration, said Mr O’Callaghan, such as the impact of the lockdown on children, the elderly, mental health, domestic violence and the economy – which is not just about money, he added, it was about putting protections in place “so we can look after people”.
Ireland’s planned phases go through until August 10th, he said, while Spain is going to reopen in June. Everyone understood that there cannot be large congregated crowds for some time, but there is a need to expedite the lifting of some restrictions, he said.
Speaking on Newstalk radio, John Halligan said the perceived benefits of lockdown would have to be weighed against its costs. He said the economy faces devastation.
“I’m not saying to abandon the complete lockdown, that would be madness, but I think the stages we have set are too far apart, we need to trust people. We have to consider the economy, we have to consider people’s lives.”
Schools
On the question of schools re-opening, immunology expert Luke O’Neill said there is no scientific evidence to say schools should not re-open, but that it should be done cautiously.
“The evidence is even more compelling that children are not a major problem here, unlike flu. The schools closure is justified if it’s a disease like flu because children pick that up among each other and then they go and spread it at home - that’s why you close schools in a flu pandemic,” he told the Pat Kenny show on Newstalk.
“This is a different virus with different properties - and the more it’s gone on, the more we’ve realised this. Now there’s really more and compelling evidence that kids aren’t a big source of spread.”
Meanwhile, the director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Liam Herrick, has called for safeguards to be put in place for the introduction of the mandatory passenger locator form.
While it was reasonable to introduce regulations of this type, he said, there were concerns around issues like data protection.
Mr Herrick told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that there are a lot of concerns about the control of personal information by the HSE and that it would be helpful to have more details about how it will operate in practice.
There may be a limited number of scenarios where a person may not be in a position to fill out the form, he added, for example if the person were claiming international protection when they arrived.
Mr Herrick said there was particular concern about criminal sanctions and it was felt that this was an inappropriate area for the gardaí to be involved. More clarification would be helpful, he said.


theirishtimes--2020-05-28--Covid-19: RCSI transfers operation of Dundalk nursing home back to provider

The operation of a Co Louth nursing home badly hit by a Covid-19 outbreak has been transferred back to the private provider by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland ( RCSI ) hospital group .
The hospital group took over the management of the Dealgan House nursing home in Dundalk on April 17th to ensure safe staffing levels amid a major outbreak of the disease in the facility .
Dealgan House has 84 beds and has been one of the worst hit nursing homes in the State , with 22 residents dying from Covid-19 there since April 1st .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ home for a daily “ health check ” to assess the need for any supports , according to an update provided by Minister for Health Simon Harris to local TDs on Wednesday .
Eoin Farrelly , managing director of Dealgan House , previously told relatives that at the height of the nursing home ’ s virus outbreak only seven of the home ’ s 24-strong nursing staff were available .
The Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) has begun an inspection of standards in the private nursing home .
Phelim Quinn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspectors will review the nursing home ’ s records of residents who died as a result of the coronavirus outbreak .
The inspection will assess the provider ’ s compliance with statutory regulations , Mr Quinn told Louth TD Fergus O ’ Dowd in a letter on 18th May .
This would include a review of “ the governance , management and risk systems in place to maintain the safety and effectiveness of care provided to residents , ” he said .
In an update , Mr Harris said all residents were now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective equipment ( PPE ) for staff was “ readily available.
” The Health Service Executive has been advised that the “ situation has stabilised , ” and there had been no further spread of Covid-19 , with safe staffing levels in place , he said .
Responding to calls for an independent inquiry into the outbreak in Dealgan House , Mr Harris said Hiqa was the independent regulator for the sector .
The watchdog had “ wide ranging powers ” to withdraw a nursing home ’ s registration to operate if inspections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr O ’ Dowd , a Fine Gael TD , said welcomed Hiqa ’ s inspection of the nursing home and called for “ accountability ” and an explanation for relatives of residents who died there .
“ I just don ’ t think it ’ s going to give families answers and closure , ” he said .
Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú said he was “ disappointed ” that Mr Harris did not commit to an independent inquiry .
“ It remains the families ’ wish to have a full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went wrong .
It is the only way to ensure that nothing like this happens again , ” he said .
In a statement , Mr Farrelly said Hiqa ’ s inspection would try to answer “ the many questions that we have , and that are being asked of us , especially as to how the virus got into our nursing home ” .
Management welcomed the inspection and was complying fully with Hiqa , he said .

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RSCI) hospital group took over the management of the Dealgan House nursing home in Dundalk on April 17th to ensure safe staffing levels amid a major outbreak of Covid-19 in the facility. Image: Getty.
The operation of a Co Louth nursing home badly hit by a Covid-19 outbreak has been transferred back to the private provider by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) hospital group.
The hospital group took over the management of the Dealgan House nursing home in Dundalk on April 17th to ensure safe staffing levels amid a major outbreak of the disease in the facility.
Dealgan House has 84 beds and has been one of the worst hit nursing homes in the State, with 22 residents dying from Covid-19 there since April 1st.
The RCSI group still contacts the nursing home for a daily “health check” to assess the need for any supports, according to an update provided by Minister for Health Simon Harris to local TDs on Wednesday.
READ MORE
Eoin Farrelly, managing director of Dealgan House, previously told relatives that at the height of the nursing home’s virus outbreak only seven of the home’s 24-strong nursing staff were available.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) has begun an inspection of standards in the private nursing home.
Phelim Quinn, Hiqa chief executive, has said inspectors will review the nursing home’s records of residents who died as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Risk systems
The inspection will assess the provider’s compliance with statutory regulations, Mr Quinn told Louth TD Fergus O’Dowd in a letter on 18th May. This would include a review of “the governance, management and risk systems in place to maintain the safety and effectiveness of care provided to residents,” he said.
In an update, Mr Harris said all residents were now in single occupancy rooms, and personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff was “readily available.”
The Health Service Executive has been advised that the "situation has stabilised," and there had been no further spread of Covid-19, with safe staffing levels in place, he said.
Responding to calls for an independent inquiry into the outbreak in Dealgan House, Mr Harris said Hiqa was the independent regulator for the sector. The watchdog had “wide ranging powers” to withdraw a nursing home’s registration to operate if inspections identified serious concerns, he said.
Accountability
Mr O'Dowd, a Fine Gael TD, said welcomed Hiqa's inspection of the nursing home and called for "accountability" and an explanation for relatives of residents who died there.
“I just don’t think it’s going to give families answers and closure,” he said.
Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú said he was “disappointed” that Mr Harris did not commit to an independent inquiry.
“It remains the families’ wish to have a full inquiry into what took place and what went wrong. It is the only way to ensure that nothing like this happens again,” he said.
In a statement, Mr Farrelly said Hiqa’s inspection would try to answer “the many questions that we have, and that are being asked of us, especially as to how the virus got into our nursing home”.
Management welcomed the inspection and was complying fully with Hiqa, he said.


theirishtimes--2020-05-28--Trinity names winners of inaugural transition year language competition

Transition year students from Tyrrelstown in Dublin and Kilfinane in County Limerick have been named the overall winners of the inaugural modern languages competition run by Trinity College Dublin to encourage more young people to study languages at third level .
Students from the Le Chéile secondary school and Scoil Pól were named on Thursday the joint overall winners of Trinity ’ s TY Modern Languages Prize which launched earlier this year .
More than 100 transition year groups around the country entered the competition which called on students to answer why they would love to be fluent in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use their “ creative and critical thinking ” to design a poster and record a short 3-5 minute podcast explaining their passion for a foreign language .
Projects in Arabic , French , German , Irish , Italian , Polish , Russian and Spanish were submitted with each of Trinity College ’ s language department picking a winner for their respective language .
The Les Baguettes French language entry by students in Tyrrelstown and the 3 Amigas Spanish language entry were named the joint overall winners with students from Lucan Community College and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named the runners up for German and Polish projects .
Students from Coláiste Eoin in Dublin , Presentation Secondary School in Thurles , St Joseph ’ s in Castlebar and Le Chéile secondary school in Tyrrelstown were also awarded prizes for their entries in Arabic , Italian , Irish and Russian .
Speaking a second or third language equips students for a wide variety of careers while also providing a distinct competitive advantage in an increasingly interconnected and multicultural world , said Dr Rachel Hoare , assistant French professor at Trinity and one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Language competence is one of the biggest skills gaps in the Irish labour market and language graduates are highly sough after in a variety of sectors , ” Dr Hoare told The Irish Times .
“ The aim of this competition was to encourage creative and critical thinking amongst TY students about why they would like to become fluent in a particular language as well as why they would like to learn about the culture and literature associated with the language.
” Trinity vice-provost professor Jürgen Barkhoff agrees that in today ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ competence in languages is a key asset for rewarding international careers ” .
A more multilingual Irish workforce can help Ireland “ stay connected , prosper and maximise its opportunities as an economy , society and culture ” , said Prof Barkhoff .
Trinity College French and Spanish graduate Gavin Radford , who now works with the Department of Foreign Affairs , noted that bilingualism and the ability to switch between two languages enables people to adapt more easily in different cultural environments .
Studying a language at college not only leads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ student ’ s mind to different ways of working and communicating , said Mr Radford .

More than 100 transition year groups around the country entered the competition organised by Trinity College Dublin. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP via Getty
Transition year students from Tyrrelstown in Dublin and Kilfinane in County Limerick have been named the overall winners of the inaugural modern languages competition run by Trinity College Dublin to encourage more young people to study languages at third level.
Students from the Le Chéile secondary school and Scoil Pól were named on Thursday the joint overall winners of Trinity’s TY Modern Languages Prize which launched earlier this year.
More than 100 transition year groups around the country entered the competition which called on students to answer why they would love to be fluent in a certain language. Students were asked to use their “creative and critical thinking” to design a poster and record a short 3-5 minute podcast explaining their passion for a foreign language.
Projects in Arabic, French, German, Irish, Italian, Polish, Russian and Spanish were submitted with each of Trinity College’s language department picking a winner for their respective language.
READ MORE
The Les Baguettes French language entry by students in Tyrrelstown and the 3 Amigas Spanish language entry were named the joint overall winners with students from Lucan Community College and St Joseph's College in Lucan named the runners up for German and Polish projects.
Students from Coláiste Eoin in Dublin, Presentation Secondary School in Thurles, St Joseph's in Castlebar and Le Chéile secondary school in Tyrrelstown were also awarded prizes for their entries in Arabic, Italian, Irish and Russian.
Competitive advantage
Speaking a second or third language equips students for a wide variety of careers while also providing a distinct competitive advantage in an increasingly interconnected and multicultural world, said Dr Rachel Hoare, assistant French professor at Trinity and one of the organisers of the competition.
“Language competence is one of the biggest skills gaps in the Irish labour market and language graduates are highly sough after in a variety of sectors,” Dr Hoare told The Irish Times. “The aim of this competition was to encourage creative and critical thinking amongst TY students about why they would like to become fluent in a particular language as well as why they would like to learn about the culture and literature associated with the language.”
Trinity vice-provost professor Jürgen Barkhoff agrees that in today’s globalised world and in post-Brexit times “competence in languages is a key asset for rewarding international careers”.
A more multilingual Irish workforce can help Ireland "stay connected, prosper and maximise its opportunities as an economy, society and culture", said Prof Barkhoff.
Trinity College French and Spanish graduate Gavin Radford, who now works with the Department of Foreign Affairs, noted that bilingualism and the ability to switch between two languages enables people to adapt more easily in different cultural environments.
Studying a language at college not only leads to linguistic fluency but also opens a student’s mind to different ways of working and communicating, said Mr Radford.


theirishtimes--2020-05-28--Contracts signed for road projects, government formation talks told

A significant number of roads projects committed to by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar must go ahead because contracts have already been signed to build them , the government-formation talks have been told .
Negotiators from Fianna Fáil , Fine Gael and the Green Party discussed the plans contained in Mr Varadkar ’ s flagship Project Ireland 2040 policy in one of the sessions on the economy earlier this week .
The Greens have previously criticised the plan as allocating the bulk of State investment towards roads , which the party claimed would lead to longer commute times and urban sprawl .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rebalance investment away from roads and towards more environmentally sustainable transport options such as cycling and public transport .
However , it is understood the Greens have largely accepted that contracts which have been signed can not be broken .
Sources close to the talks said a session on Project Ireland 2040 earlier this week was told that contracts for a significant number of the roads projects in the plan have been signed , and that the projects must go ahead .
It is understood that the N5 road project linking Turlough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was specifically cited .
Among the other concerns held by some Greens are over the Land Development Agency ( LDA ) , which key figures in Fianna Fáil , Fine Gael and the Greens envisage playing a major role in increasing the supply of homes .
Some Greens believe , however , that the LDA , which aims to encourage the development of State-owned lands , would effectively see the State hand land over to private developers .
This charge is rejected by those close to Fine Gael , and Fianna Fáil sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern is increasing the supply of homes .
Project Ireland 2040 was one the flagship initiatives of Mr Varadkar ’ s time at the helm of the Fine Gael-Independent minority government in the last Dáil .
Launched in February 2018 , it envisaged €5.7 billion being spent on national road schemes , including the €0.9 billion Cork to Limerick motorway as well a further €4.5 billion on local and regional roads .
In a letter to the National Bus and Rail Union earlier this month , Mr Varadkar said that the MetroLink and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead , adding : “ The new government will want to review Project Ireland 2040 and , as part of that , consideration will be given to further investment in cycling and pedestrian infrastructure , the Navan-Dunboyne rail line , investment in electric and hydrogen-fuelled buses , among other suggestions.
” Fianna Fáil sources have also said that Project Ireland 2040 would be reviewed .
The talks are continuing , with negotiations on social protection – including whether to raise the pension age , a key issue in the general election campaign – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
Prior to its last term in government between 2007 and 2011 , the Greens campaigned on rerouting the M3 motorway away from the Hill of Tara .
However , the party failed to get this commitment from Fianna Fáil before it entered office .

Project Ireland 2040 was one the flagship initiatives of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s time at the helm of the Fine Gael-Independent minority government in the last Dáil. Photograph: Leon Farrell/Photocall
A significant number of roads projects committed to by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar must go ahead because contracts have already been signed to build them, the government-formation talks have been told.
Negotiators from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party discussed the plans contained in Mr Varadkar's flagship Project Ireland 2040 policy in one of the sessions on the economy earlier this week.
The Greens have previously criticised the plan as allocating the bulk of State investment towards roads, which the party claimed would lead to longer commute times and urban sprawl.
Party figures had suggested it would seek to rebalance investment away from roads and towards more environmentally sustainable transport options such as cycling and public transport.
READ MORE
However, it is understood the Greens have largely accepted that contracts which have been signed cannot be broken.
Sources close to the talks said a session on Project Ireland 2040 earlier this week was told that contracts for a significant number of the roads projects in the plan have been signed, and that the projects must go ahead.
It is understood that the N5 road project linking Turlough outside Castlebar to Westport in Co Mayo was specifically cited.
Land Development Agency
Among the other concerns held by some Greens are over the Land Development Agency (LDA), which key figures in Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens envisage playing a major role in increasing the supply of homes.
Some Greens believe, however, that the LDA, which aims to encourage the development of State-owned lands, would effectively see the State hand land over to private developers. This charge is rejected by those close to Fine Gael, and Fianna Fáil sources have said the party’s main concern is increasing the supply of homes.
Project Ireland 2040 was one the flagship initiatives of Mr Varadkar’s time at the helm of the Fine Gael-Independent minority government in the last Dáil.
Launched in February 2018, it envisaged €5.7 billion being spent on national road schemes, including the €0.9 billion Cork to Limerick motorway as well a further €4.5 billion on local and regional roads.
In a letter to the National Bus and Rail Union earlier this month, Mr Varadkar said that the MetroLink and BusConnects projects in the plan would go ahead, adding: "The new government will want to review Project Ireland 2040 and, as part of that, consideration will be given to further investment in cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, the Navan-Dunboyne rail line, investment in electric and hydrogen-fuelled buses, among other suggestions."
Fianna Fáil sources have also said that Project Ireland 2040 would be reviewed.
The talks are continuing, with negotiations on social protection – including whether to raise the pension age, a key issue in the general election campaign – expected to take place later in the week.
Prior to its last term in government between 2007 and 2011, the Greens campaigned on rerouting the M3 motorway away from the Hill of Tara.
However, the party failed to get this commitment from Fianna Fáil before it entered office.


theirishtimes--2020-05-27--Timeline: How the disaster in nursing homes unfolded

At a meeting of the Dáil ’ s special Covid-19 committee on Tuesday , TDs heard that while the coronavirus pandemic took hold across Irish society , nursing homes were left without a timely plan .
Key State organisations left the sector “ isolated ” , the committee heard .
The head of Nursing Homes Ireland ( NHI ) Tadhg Daly said he was left “ exasperated by the lack of engagement ” .
Documentation running to hundreds of pages now paints a picture of a sector struggling to be heard behind the scenes .
A timeline of unfolding events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month for a specific plan to be put in place by which stage there were 22 outbreaks in nursing homes .
NHI head Tadhg Daly writes to senior officials in the Department of Health seeking “ urgent ” guidance for the sector after the first confirmed case of coronavirus on the island of Ireland .
On February 27th , a HSE briefing heard that there is an “ adequate stock ” of personal protective equipment .
In his letter to officials , Mr Daly says he notes the statement from the HSE but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case for our member homes ” .
Daly again writes to senior officials in the Department of Health and asks for an “ express commitment ” that the needs of the private and voluntary nursing home sector are addressed by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) .
The department says the sector will be “ encompassed ” within the scope of the work of a team assessing the needs of vulnerable people .
A Dáil debate on the Covid-19 crisis is held the next day , there are only two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tells the HSE about “ increasing queries from members ” about “ safe and appropriate discharges from acute hospitals to nursing homes ” .
He says there is an “ immediate requirement on the HSE to outline the procedures for discharge ” .
He says that communication is important or “ this may get out of control ” .
That day , visiting restrictions are introduced in more than 400 private and voluntary nursing homes across the country .
A meeting of NPHET is held the next day .
Nursing homes are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general of the Department of Health Jim Breslin and Minister for Health Simon Harris raising concerns that workers from the nursing homes sector are being recruited to tackle Covid-19 elsewhere in the health service .
This would be at the “ severe detriment ” of people in the nursing home sector and could “ endanger older people ” .
On the same day , Daly again asks the department for guidance on admissions from hospitals .
Guidance on the transfer of patients between healthcare facilities is issued but by March 12th , NHI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around PPE and raises concerns about contingency arrangements should staff become ill. Daly says that there is “ no specific practical guidance ” for nursing homes on places such as the HSPC website .
Publicly , chief medical officer Tony Holohan says restrictions on nursing home visits are not yet necessary .
This is reiterated at a meeting of the NPHET on March 10th where “ it was agreed that the current practice of restricting visitors to nursing homes was not required and this would be kept under review ” .
After an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Daly seeks clarity from the department about how nursing homes will maintain staffing levels .
The NPHET meets again but there is no mention of nursing homes , staffing or visiting restrictions .
In a letter to Kathleen McLellan , the chair of the vulnerable person ’ s sub-group on NPHET , Daly says the recently issued HSE guidance contains “ no practical guidance to nursing homes on how to reduce the risk of transmission ” and says “ no information ” has been provided in relation to personal protective equipment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing homes with regard to how they can access such equipment and no assurance is coming from our health services in this regard.
” He requests “ immediate engagement ” .
He is told by McLellan that “ work is going ” on guidance .
Pharmacists are told on this day that they will be given PPE but that stock is “ limited ” .
NHI reports to health officials that its members still can not get access to PPE .
Pubs are closed on this day .
At a meeting the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need for social distancing in playgrounds and hairdressers .
Concerns about nursing homes and personal protective equipment are not discussed .
Daly writes to Harris with a plea for the Minister to desist from “ targeting the recruitment of staff from the private and voluntary nursing home sector ” .
While Daly praises the “ round the clock ” engagement , he says there are “ pressing issues ” .
He says there are now confirmed cases of Covid-19 among nursing home residents and yet the provision of PPE is “ challenging to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing also have “ cataclysmic consequences ” .
He requests a urgent meeting with the department and the next day also requests an urgent meeting in a email to the Minister for Health .
On this day , Harris tells the public that while some countries choose not to prioritise testing , Ireland will “ test , test , test ” .
He says “ older people should not be worried – it is an uncertain time , but we are going to mind you ” .
NHI makes a submission on funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a meeting with Harris .
Two days later in the Dáil , Labour ’ s Duncan Smith says he has heard of frontline nursing staff having to wash PPE in sinks and baths for reuse .
The NPHET meets on March 24th and agrees sweeping new restrictions across society .
Nursing homes are not discussed .
A meeting is held between the nursing home representatives and Harris on March 30th .
The next day the NPHET meets and agrees “ that the growing number of clusters of Covid-19 infections in nursing homes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and targeted focus ” .
On this day , it emerges that a total of 22 outbreaks of coronavirus have been reported in nursing homes across the State .

Nursing Homes Ireland chief executive, Tadhg Daly had a clear, simply-messaged story to tell when he appeared before the Dáil’s special Covid-19 committee on Tuesday. File photograph: Getty
At a meeting of the Dáil’s special Covid-19 committee on Tuesday, TDs heard that while the coronavirus pandemic took hold across Irish society, nursing homes were left without a timely plan.
Key State organisations left the sector "isolated", the committee heard. The head of Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) Tadhg Daly said he was left "exasperated by the lack of engagement".
Documentation running to hundreds of pages now paints a picture of a sector struggling to be heard behind the scenes.
A timeline of unfolding events suggests that it took more than a month for a specific plan to be put in place by which stage there were 22 outbreaks in nursing homes.
READ MORE
February 28th
NHI head Tadhg Daly writes to senior officials in the Department of Health seeking "urgent" guidance for the sector after the first confirmed case of coronavirus on the island of Ireland.
On February 27th, a HSE briefing heard that there is an “adequate stock” of personal protective equipment. In his letter to officials, Mr Daly says he notes the statement from the HSE but he says “this is not the case for our member homes”.
March 4th
Daly again writes to senior officials in the Department of Health and asks for an "express commitment" that the needs of the private and voluntary nursing home sector are addressed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). The department says the sector will be "encompassed" within the scope of the work of a team assessing the needs of vulnerable people. A Dáil debate on the Covid-19 crisis is held the next day, there are only two specific references to nursing homes.
March 6th
Daly tells the HSE about “increasing queries from members” about “safe and appropriate discharges from acute hospitals to nursing homes”. He says there is an “immediate requirement on the HSE to outline the procedures for discharge”. He says that communication is important or “this may get out of control”. That day, visiting restrictions are introduced in more than 400 private and voluntary nursing homes across the country. A meeting of NPHET is held the next day. Nursing homes are not discussed.
March 9th
Daly writes to the secretary general of the Department of Health Jim Breslin and Minister for Health Simon Harris raising concerns that workers from the nursing homes sector are being recruited to tackle Covid-19 elsewhere in the health service. This would be at the "severe detriment" of people in the nursing home sector and could "endanger older people". On the same day, Daly again asks the department for guidance on admissions from hospitals.
March 10th
Guidance on the transfer of patients between healthcare facilities is issued but by March 12th, NHI calls for more stringent measures, clarity around PPE and raises concerns about contingency arrangements should staff become ill. Daly says that there is "no specific practical guidance" for nursing homes on places such as the HSPC website. Publicly, chief medical officer Tony Holohan says restrictions on nursing home visits are not yet necessary. This is reiterated at a meeting of the NPHET on March 10th where "it was agreed that the current practice of restricting visitors to nursing homes was not required and this would be kept under review".
March 12th
After an announcement that schools and colleges will close, Daly seeks clarity from the department about how nursing homes will maintain staffing levels. The NPHET meets again but there is no mention of nursing homes, staffing or visiting restrictions.
March 13th
In a letter to Kathleen McLellan, the chair of the vulnerable person’s sub-group on NPHET, Daly says the recently issued HSE guidance contains “no practical guidance to nursing homes on how to reduce the risk of transmission” and says “no information” has been provided in relation to personal protective equipment.
“We are receiving constant queries from nursing homes with regard to how they can access such equipment and no assurance is coming from our health services in this regard.” He requests “immediate engagement”. He is told by McLellan that “work is going” on guidance. Pharmacists are told on this day that they will be given PPE but that stock is “limited”.
March 15th
NHI reports to health officials that its members still cannot get access to PPE. Pubs are closed on this day. At a meeting the next day, the NPHET talks about the need for social distancing in playgrounds and hairdressers. Concerns about nursing homes and personal protective equipment are not discussed.
March 17th
Daly writes to Harris with a plea for the Minister to desist from “targeting the recruitment of staff from the private and voluntary nursing home sector”.
March 18th
While Daly praises the “round the clock” engagement, he says there are “pressing issues”. He says there are now confirmed cases of Covid-19 among nursing home residents and yet the provision of PPE is “challenging to say the least”.
Delays in testing also have “cataclysmic consequences”. He requests a urgent meeting with the department and the next day also requests an urgent meeting in a email to the Minister for Health. On this day, Harris tells the public that while some countries choose not to prioritise testing, Ireland will “test, test, test”. He says “older people should not be worried – it is an uncertain time, but we are going to mind you”.
March 24th
NHI makes a submission on funding needed for the sector and again requests a meeting with Harris. Two days later in the Dáil, Labour’s Duncan Smith says he has heard of frontline nursing staff having to wash PPE in sinks and baths for reuse. The NPHET meets on March 24th and agrees sweeping new restrictions across society. Nursing homes are not discussed.
March 30th
A meeting is held between the nursing home representatives and Harris on March 30th. The next day the NPHET meets and agrees “that the growing number of clusters of Covid-19 infections in nursing homes and residential healthcare settings... requires an immediate and targeted focus”. On this day, it emerges that a total of 22 outbreaks of coronavirus have been reported in nursing homes across the State.