Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

Gabh mo leithscéal. I apologise. I referred to the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, whose presence is required in the House.

My main reason for speaking today is a matter of national significance pertaining to public health. I ask the Leader to use his good offices to intervene with the Minister for Health and Children and establish urgently what is happening regarding the BCG immunisation programme for sixth class pupils nationwide. Although schools will close tomorrow, I have received calls from hundreds of children across the city and county of Galway who have not received the BCG vaccine. As the Leader is aware, tuberculosis is on the increase. However, people from Lisheenkyle national school, to name a single example, have told me in recent weeks that it has not received the BCG for three years in a row, and I have checked this out with the Health Service Executive. Something unusual is happening in this regard. Having researched the issue, I am aware there has been a shortage of the vaccine but the parents involved are very worried. I am unsure whether this is a national problem but it certainly is a problem in Galway city and county. I ask the Leader to revert with an answer by next week because I must acquire this information. How will children gain access to the BCG vaccine? As I learned this morning that this could take 15 months, it is a serious issue.