Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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2298. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the vaccine bonus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37282/21]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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2626. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the vaccine bonus for those who are 28 days post the first dose of a vaccine (details supplied) in view of concerns raised regarding the delta variant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38432/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2298 and 2626 together.

As the Deputies will be aware, on 29 June, Government announced the next phase of reopening the economy and society in line with Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead.

While significant progress is being made in relation to the roll-out of our vaccination programme, the rapidly increasing prevalence of the more transmissible Delta variant, and the significant risk this poses, in particular to those who are not yet fully vaccinated, meant that a number of higher risk indoor activities did not recommence as planned on 5 July, pending the implementation of a system to verify vaccination or immunity status.

Disease incidence has increased rapidly in recent weeks, especially among those who are not yet fully protected through vaccination and the outlook for the coming weeks is very uncertain.

I can confirm to the Deputies, that following NPHET advice on 28 June, the vaccine bonus now only applies to an individual once two weeks have passed since they have received the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Details of this advice can be found online here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/ba4aa0-letters-from-the-cmo-to-the-minister-for-health/#2021

Significant and sustained progress has been made on suppressing the virus over recent months due to the huge effort of people across the country. By working together, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland. To protect the gains of recent months we must continue to practice basic preventative behaviours and to follow public health guidelines.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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2299. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons that have been hospitalised from the effects of the Covid-19 vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37284/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.