Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 29 September 2020

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response

Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State

Photo of Cormac DevlinCormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms O'Connor. Mr. Reid mentioned a flu vaccine for two to 12-year olds. I ask him to elaborate on that as it is of interest in particular to parents and school-going children.

Wonderful work has been done by Mr. Reid's staff and other staff as well on testing and tracing but several people in my constituency have reported that they have been dispatched to test centres in Wicklow, Tallaght or St. Vincent's Hospital as their local testing centres. I concur with other members that that is just not feasible for some people. Why is a testing centre not more readily available in the southeastern area of Dublin?

Finally, it will be mental health week shortly. Given the impact that Covid is having on people who experience issues with their mental health, what additional services have been put in place as part of the winter plan?