Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is some positivity in that reply, which is welcome. Since I started raising this issue, there has been huge concern around it. Parents have been at the forefront of sharing their concerns with me on this. The Minister of State mentioned in his reply that it was necessary to suspend the programme. I accept that and anyone with common sense would say that back in the earlier part of the year, it was all hands to the pump in terms of dealing with Covid-19, and those working in the health services and the Department of Health in administering that deserve our credit for the heroic work they have carried out. They have saved people's lives and they have managed in very difficult circumstances.

I accept that while some clinics were provided in CHO 8, it is also widely accepted that schools are the best place to have this administered because there is a captive audience. The Minister of State will accept that where children are in school, there will be a better take-up of the programme because the children are present and because it is happening on the one site. There is no reason for this not to kick off in the midlands counties again. The Minister of State mentioned that it will resume in the coming weeks. He might give me an indication of when that will be and if it will happen before Christmas.

One particular concern I have is on the vaccine for cervical cancer that boys and girls get. That is the way it is administered according to my information. My concern is that there are two jabs for that and that they have to be given six months apart to first year pupils. It is important that the first jab of that HPV vaccine is administered as quickly as possible to allow the second jab to be given later on in the year.

That is of primary concern. We must ensure that girls are not left exposed to cervical cancer later in life.

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