Antisocial behaviour and vaccine rollout
Deputy O'Reilly raised antisocial behaviour, calls for more bins, toilets and visible gardaí, then Deputy Kelly asked for confirmation of the vaccination timetable. The Tánaiste said outdoor-summer measures need support, garda numbers are at record levels, and the vaccine target remains unchanged.
Next week, Sinn Féin will meet Anne Marie Cagney, assistant commissioner for the Dublin metropolitan region, to discuss the issue of antisocial behaviour in Dublin city and county. I am sure the Tánaiste, like all other Members, has seen social media videos of incidents in Malahide and other areas and I am sure constituents of his who are gravely concerned have contacted his office. The public health message is that we will have our summer outdoors. That means we need more facilities such as bins and public toilets. It also means that we will need to see more gardaí on our streets but, as well as that, we will need to see increased funding for community-based services and activities for younger people. It is not fair to demonise young people, as some people have tried to do, but neither can we ignore the real concerns communities have about the rise in antisocial behaviour.
Alongside the reopening plan, we need the Government to publish a plan for the summer outdoors which details investment in community-based services for young people as well as an increased Garda presence to keep outside spaces safe. Will the Tánaiste and the Government publish such a plan?
Comment on this
The Deputy makes a very good point and suggestion. We released a plan to have an outdoor summer and that may have created issues that need to be dealt with. Local authorities are providing more bins and public toilets. I welcome that. We need more of that from local authorities.
As regards gardaí, the budget for the Garda and the number of gardaí have never been higher. We are at record levels in terms of the size of the Garda force and that allows for more outdoor gardaí and a more visible presence through the summer and that will be needed. The points made by the Deputy regarding community services are well made.
Comment on this
There are reports that the national immunisation advisory council, NIAC, is expected to clear the way for the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and possibly the AstraZeneca vaccine, for the 45 to 50 age cohort. In terms of the detail of this, there are issues relating to timing as regards cohorts, so this would be very positive news. I understand the Tánaiste told his parliamentary party last night that everyone who wants a vaccine will be offered one by the end of June. That would be great news. Can he confirm on the floor of the Dáil that that is his view? The reason this could be possible is because 10% to 15% of people are turning down the offer of a vaccine. Can the Tánaiste confirm that he believes everyone over the age of 18 will be offered a vaccine by the end of June? Will they get one or be offered one? What is being done to encourage the 10% to 15% who are not taking up the offer of a vaccine?
Comment on this
I can confirm that the Government target has not changed. That target is that 82% of adults should either have had one dose, be fully vaccinated or have been offered a vaccine by the end of June.
I was speaking yesterday about the possibility of opening the portal to all adults before the end of June so everyone will be able to book their appointment. They might not have the vaccine by the end of June, but they will certainly have their appointment for it in early July. That may well be achieved because the vaccine programme is going very well and is really ramping up, and I thank the HSE, staff and volunteers for all the work they are doing in that regard, but also because of the reality that there always will be 10% or 15% of people who will choose not to take a vaccine. That is their right and choice but we will continue to encourage them to be vaccinated and provide whatever information and reassurance we can to get those figures up as high as possible. We need to do that.
I do not have any news regarding NIAC at the moment but I understand there will be a decision in the coming days, certainly before Tuesday.