Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Last week, I raised the issue of vaccines and vulnerable people and called on the Minister for Health to come to the House for a debate on it, although I am pleased to say those people have since received vaccines. Having said that, I am concerned about the increasing number of Covid-19 cases detected in Limerick and the fact that many young people are being treated in the hospital. My main concern is that, allegedly, a 60-bed unit opened there recently, but people are on trolleys awaiting beds and I have discovered that 45 beds within the hospital have been closed, which has not been reported. This is really serious. Covid numbers are increasing, I am ashamed to say, and people are waiting on trolleys. It is not acceptable. It is opportune that the Minister come to the House for a debate because we cannot allow people who really need care to be left waiting on trolleys in corridors, especially in these Covid times.

Limerick has not been included in the provision of pop-up driving test centres. More than 3,000 people from the city centre alone are on the waiting list and there are many more in the wider county. It is a disgrace that Limerick has not been included because it has a high number on the waiting list. I call on the Leader to intervene and see whether something can be done to have Limerick added to the initiative.