Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the change in policy from last week when the Minister attended the committee. It is certainly welcome in respect of those who are resident in our hospitals.

In April, it is hoped that we will receive around 250,000 doses per week. That is the estimate, all being well, and it amounts to 1 million doses for the month. We want those doses to be administered. I ask Mr. Reid to talk us through procedurally how this number of vaccines will be administered in our vaccination centres, GP surgeries, pharmacies and even dental surgeries. For example, will it be first come, first served in the relevant age groups or will people be individually invited to receive the vaccine or book online? What sort of logistics does the HSE have planned for that?

My second question concerns interns and the intern doctor cohort. There are currently around 1,100 interns working in the HSE. From 12 July 2021, this number will drop to 750. In effect, the health service will be cutting about 250 junior doctor posts, arguably at a time of huge demand for resources. To put it into context, in University Hospital Galway, intern numbers will fall from 86 to 71; in Portiuncula Hospital, they will fall from 15 to 11; and in Mayo University Hospital, they will fall from 16 to 11. Last year, the previous Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, offered all eligible graduates of Irish medical schools an internship role with the HSE. Considering that there is an even larger budget this year, why is that policy not being continued?