Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I disagree with the Deputy's analysis of the country and the Government's performance in relation to Covid-19 since the onset of the pandemic. For instance, one key aspect has been the vaccination programme, which has been one of the most successful across the world in terms of speed, efficiency and effectiveness. About 90% of those over 12-year-olds are now fully vaccinated. That is no mean achievement and it is a tribute to the public, the robust debate within public media and those inside and outside officialdom who have offered opinions.

We reopened the economy substantively from March onwards, which has had a bounceback and has brought thousands of people back to work. That is a positive. We supported companies through the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, the Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, the rates relief, and the variety of other supports we provided, including the warehousing of tax for businesses. This meant we kept thousands of businesses viable so that when we did reopen, they could start from a reasonable platform. That is something that should not be underestimated. If you talk to people, they will acknowledge that. The economic platform was very significant. We took a decision to borrow to underpin the economy in the midst of a one in 100 year event, which has borne fruit. That said, there has been a cost to the reopening. When the opportunities for socialisation are created, there will be opportunities for the virus to spread, particularly a transmissible variant of the virus that is the Delta variant. Therefore, there is a balance needed all the time and the Government has taken decisions in that regard.

On the booster programme, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, NIAC, provides public health advice, which I am sure the Deputy will accept and has accepted from the outset, on the utilisation of vaccines, especially with regard to the booster vaccination. There have been various timelines at which that advice has been given to the HSE on the booster campaign. The booster start date for residents at long-term care facilities aged 65 years and older, of whom there is an estimated cohort size of about 30,000, was 4 October. The end date for cohort eligibility is March 2022, because the five- to six-month interval of the application of that has to be factored in.

The booster programme for that group is expected to be substantially completed by the end of October. Residents of long-term care facilities under the age of 65, of whom there are approximately 18,000, are expected to have received a booster vaccine by early to mid-December. The programme for the cohort comprising healthcare workers aged under 60 years, including those working in long-term care facilities, is expected to be completed by the end of December. There are approximately 305,000 in this cohort. There are approximately 161,000 people in the cohort aged 80 and older. Administration of a booster to this group will be substantially completed by mid-November. Some of these will not be eligible until March 2022. We are looking at the end of November or early December for substantial completion in respect of the cohort aged 70 to 79. We are looking at the end of December for those aged 60 to 69. A booster vaccination campaign for the cohort aged 50 to 59 will now be operationalised. I just got that advice yesterday evening. I also got further advice regarding those who are at a very high risk, including four in seven of the immunocompromised and those with underlying conditions.

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