Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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384. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when serving members of the Defence Forces stationed in and outside Ireland, respectively, will receive the Covid-19 vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9980/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and the Department of Health, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020. It sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination.

I am advised that the Defence Forces has established vaccine prioritisation which is in line with this national allocation strategy. Initial vaccination priority is for Defence Force personnel who are providing front line support to the Health Service Executive (HSE) and National Ambulance Service in the national effort to combat COVID-19.

Personnel selected for overseas service will fall into a prioritised grouping, and will be vaccinated in line with the national allocation strategy and the Defence Forces prioritisation list, subject to availability of the vaccine which is coordinated through the HSE.