Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be making statements. I would appreciate it if the Minister would come back to me with the answers. The vaccine roll-out did not get off to a good start. We all know that and I hope things are ironing themselves out. I raised with the Minister several times the issue of home helps being offered a vaccine throughout west Cork. This took some pleading but it seems that many got the vaccine last week, which they greatly appreciate.

I will never play political football with the vaccine roll-out. I will come in here and press for vaccines for those who ask me to do so. I would like all politicians to do the same. I saw some comments about me and the vaccine leading to letters to editors of papers misrepresenting my views. I did not waste my time with an answer as it was all politically orchestrated, in particular by the Fine Gael Party. Politics should not be played on this issue. If people want the vaccine, by all means they should get it.

Some concerns have been expressed to me by the elderly on the islands of west Cork - Cape Clear, Sherkin, Long, Whiddy, Dursey, Heir and Bere Island. Some of our elderly are being requested to go to the nearest health centre on the mainland. Many may be genuinely infirm and unable to go to the ferry. Most of these could be vaccinated in one day if the helicopter service could be used. Is this possible?

When will workers and patients in CoAction in west Cork be in line for vaccination? As Deputy Mattie McGrath said, our gardaí are pressing that they are front-line workers in their own right and they deserve to be vaccinated if they want it.

While Covid-19 is of the utmost importance, we have to look at life after Covid and the other health crisis we will face. My concern is about Bantry General Hospital and improved services to meet demand. I have raised in the Dáil a number of times the promised endoscopy and rehabilitation units in Bantry hospital. I was informed by the Minister, Deputy Harris, on 25 February 2020 that a decision had been reached to appoint a design team to progress both projects this year. Bantry General Hospital serves up to 80,000 people in west Cork from the Beara Peninsula to Bandon. Will the Minister get back to me and tell me when the project team was appointed and what progress has been made on both projects?

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