Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was to share with my colleague, Deputy Lowry, but I do not know whether he is here. I will keep going and we will see.

I wish to raise an issue relevant to several of my constituents. Many Deputies in the House have similar constituency issues. I heard the Minister relay that cohort 7 would be revised. I am somewhat concerned about who is actually putting the list together. The reason is that I have a great many constituents with serious underlying conditions making representations to me and asking me to represent their views to the Minister. I have been unable to secure any form of clarification.

I will tell the Minister about Enda. Enda is 16 years old but is severely autistic. He has three siblings. They all live in the same house with his mother and father. They have not had one night's sleep in this year. Enda normally remains awake for the whole of the night-time period. He has had his whole world turned upside down because he does not see his carer and does not go to his facility. They have no respite. Effectively, a whole family and the boy's carer are being discommoded. They have absolutely no clarity on whether, as a 16-year-old, Enda will be vaccinated given that it has been said that there will not be vaccinations for those under 18 years. The fact that he has a severe intellectual autistic condition means that he needs the interaction of his carer and special needs assistants. Where will that leave this family?

In another example, Walter is 40 years old and lives on his own. He has had two kidney transplants. Walter drives himself for dialysis three days per week. He does not see his parents or brother. He cannot go to the shop, especially since the RTÉ programme the other night broadcast interviews with Covid-19 sufferers who told us that they could only point to the fact that they picked it up in the shop. Walter's life is severely limited. He needs clarity. At 40 years of age his whole life has been surrounded by limitations, but this is a particularly terrible time in that he cannot even see his family.

I have also heard from the mental health services in Wexford. The Westlands unit is a residential unit that takes care of five adults. The people there have no clue. I asked as late as last night if they had been notified. I received an email this morning. There has been no notification for the front-line health workers in Westlands in respect of whether or when they will be vaccinated.

Leah is 26 years old and has Down's syndrome. Sometimes she suffers with different things that may put her in hospital but ultimately she is at home with her family, who are her primary carers. None of the family members are eligible for a vaccine based on the roll-out or the age profile. I am asking about Leah. Can we have some clarity?

Above all, I am asking about family carers. I heard Jane Johnston this morning. Her son has returned every second week on a rota basis to his services. It is of the utmost relief. Jane was in tears this morning. She was worried about how he would get along and because she has no way of knowing when he or those around him will be vaccinated. I appeal for these people, who are suffering psychologically. When they will have some form of relative normality? It is normally a difficult situation for these families in any case. I call for some clarity on the roll-out.

I am unsure whether my colleague, Deputy Lowry, has arrived. The Minister can answer. I do not think the Deputy is here.

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