Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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692. To ask the Minister for Health when persons under 70 years of age living with cancer will receive the Covid-19 vaccine. [8060/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.

Vaccine allocation is a matter for my Department and further information is available here:.

The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is the responsibility of the HSE.

The aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is to ensure, over time, that vaccine will become available to vaccinate all of those for whom the vaccine is indicated. Given that there will be initially limited vaccines available, it will take some time for all to receive those vaccines and that has necessitated an allocation strategy to ensure that those most at risk of death and serious illness receive the vaccine first.

The priority is to first vaccinate and protect directly the most vulnerable amongst us, that is, those most likely to have a poor outcome if they contract the virus. The priority is to directly use vaccines to save lives and reduce serious illness, hence the focus on the over 65 year old cohort in long term residential care facilities, and healthcare workers in frontline services often caring for the most vulnerable.

The next group (Group 3) to be vaccinated are those aged 70 and older in the following order: 85 and older, 80-84, 75-79, and 70-74. Vaccination of this group will begin this month. All of the groups will be covered as further vaccine supplies become available and the immunisation programme is rolled out nationally.

The evidence will be kept under review and the allocation groups may be updated, where necessary, in light of new evidence.

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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693. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which visitors coming into Ireland are expected to travel from the airport to their place of quarantine; and if he plans to arrange safe transport for this purpose as has been done in the UK and other countries. [8071/21]

Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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921. To ask the Minister for Health if persons travelling to Ireland from Brazil will be required to pay for their hotel quarantine. [8777/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 693 and 921 together.

The operationalisation of designated quarantine facilities is being advanced on a cross-departmental basis, including the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Transport, Justice, Public Expenditure and Reform, as well as Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, as a matter of priority.

This group is working urgently to establish the scope of services required to put these facilities in place, including necessary procurement and legislative basis – including operational issues such as costs or transport.

A draft bill is at an advanced stage and will be published and submitted to Second Stage in the Dáil once approved by Cabinet. The Bill will allow for the quarantine in a central location of travellers who have been in a specified state within the past 14 days, regardless of citizenship or residence.

Under the current system of mandatory home quarantine, arrivals from Category 2 countries, including Brazil, South Africa, UAE, and other designated countries, must complete the full 14 days of quarantine - regardless of whether they can show a negative test result during the quarantine period.