Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is questions.

I thank the Minister and all of the people involved in trying to get the vaccine rolled out at the earliest possible time. Everyone involved is working extremely hard. In the South Infirmary in Cork, over two days, 1,200 people were vaccinated. This included people working in the hospital sector, GPs, their assistants, ambulance paramedics and front-line workers. Vaccinating 1,200 people in two days shows the commitment given by people. People were also working on a voluntary basis.

We still have not received clarification on home helps calling to five to six houses a day to provide care to elderly vulnerable people. If the company they are working for has a contract with the HSE, it appears to have no difficulty in getting its employees vaccinated. However, in the case of companies not directly doing work for the HSE but which have contracts to provide home care, their employees do not seem to be able to get access to getting vaccinated. I would like to see some clarification on that issue.

My understanding is that those receiving dialysis are on the seventh cycle, way down along the list. These are people who might travel to hospital three or four times a week. Someone must take them and then someone must bring them home, meaning they have much contact with people outside their own home. They appear not to be prioritised. It is a small - around 2,000 people - but important group. Can they be prioritised?

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