The Minister for Health has claimed TDs have been spreading fear and anxiety about a Ballinasloe nursing home which has reported a Covid cluster.
The HSE has confimed it will be providing additional staff at the Nightingale nursing home after 25 of its 27 residents tested positive for Coronavirus this week.
Most nursing staff have also been infected along with healthcare assistants.
Staff from Roscommon University Hospital, Community Healthcare West and Saolta University Hospital Group have been drafted in to support the facility but it's understood that the extra staff will only be working nights.
The Dail heard complaints about the handling of the issue by the HSE after it was informed on Sunday about the Covid results
Minister Stephen Donnelly says some of the comments around the issue has not been accurate:
Ballygar GP Martin Daly had alerted people to the situation at the nursing home today after he was forced to admit a resident, one of his patients to Portiuncula hospital to seek treatment.
He says while the news that staff will be provided to the centre is positive, it cannot just be for three days.
He's described the nurse and assistants who have stayed on to provide care as heroes:
Roscommon Galway Deputy Denis Naughten says while he's glad that some staff have been sourced to help at the Nightingale Nursing Home, the situation should never have arisen in the first place.
The Independent TD says while the Health Minister had left the Dail immediately on being told of the situation this morning, the nursing home had clearly needed help much earlier.
The TD says there is still a need to put proper arrangements in place that will make sure the home gets through the next fortnight:
