Last month I raised the issue of the lack of a vaccination centre in Drogheda. The HSE had originally identified Drogheda and Dundalk for vaccination centres. The centre in Dundalk is up and running, which is good news, but there is no excuse for the delay in the delivery of a vaccination centre for Drogheda. I contacted the HSE again recently but there is still no update. I am sure the Tánaiste will agree that the efficient, fast and effective roll-out of the vaccination programme is of the utmost importance but there seems to be no urgency in the HSE to deliver same. Will the Tánaiste instruct the HSE to expedite the delivery of the vaccination centre in Drogheda? It is the largest town in Ireland and people should not be forced to travel to be vaccinated.

I appreciate that the Deputy raised this matter with me previously. Deputy O'Dowd also raised it with me. Drogheda is a town of more than 40,000 people and I can see that there is a very strong case for having a vaccination centre there as well as in Dundalk. I will raise it with the HSE. As the Deputy knows, I do not have the authority to instruct the HSE on matters like this but I will certainly raise it. I would point out that there are many other parts of the country where there is no vaccination centre and people have to travel to be vaccinated. I represent the Blanchardstown area, which is home to 120,000 people and the nearest vaccination centres are in DCU and City West, to which people have to travel. Those centres are working very well.

Like I said, I will raise the matter with the HSE.