Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his questions. I will try to respond to his question about the paediatric diabetes clinic in Mullingar regional hospital, a matter on which I recently answered a question from another Deputy from the area. Indeed, quite a few Deputies from the area have raised it with me. I acknowledge the work that Professor O'Grady has been doing. The post has been filled, but it will not be taken up for another few months. The Minister and I will work with the HSE to see whether we can expedite that.

Deputy Brendan Smith mentioned that some elderly people had not received vaccines. Three weeks ago, we started the roll-out to the over-70s, but there does not need to be any ambiguity about this. We have always stated clearly that the roll-out to the over-70s would commence with the over-85s. Some 99% of those have been vaccinated to date. There have been a couple of issues, but I am led to believe that the majority of those will be sorted by this week.

Vaccinations for those who are housebound are commencing today. The National Ambulance Service will be travelling the length and breadth of the country to look after them. There is a small cohort of people who cannot leave their homes in order to get vaccinated. Those vaccinations will start today in the greater Dublin area.

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