PCR and booster access in Kerry
Deputy Healy-Rae complains that PCR tests and boosters are hard to access in Kerry and that families face costly private testing. The Taoiseach disputes the claims, says large numbers of PCR tests were distributed, and tells the Deputy to be balanced.
Regarding the spread of the virus, an awful lot of attention is now being directed towards children attending national school. Nine-year-olds must wear masks all day and five-to-11-year-olds may be vaccinated. Parents are very worried about this. Today there is no PCR test available in Kerry. The nearest place to take a test today is Shannon Airport. There is no booster available in Killarney, only Tralee, so all the people from south and east Kerry must go to Tralee. A family of seven were quoted €700 to go to the Bon Secours, in Tralee, to get private PCR tests. Where is logic in all this? The people must go to Shannon Airport to get a PCR test. That is the truth.
Comment on this
They are not available in Cork either today.
Comment on this
It is a great mystery that we gave out 212,000 PCR tests last week and no one got them, apparently, and no one can get them in Kerry. Is that what the Deputy is saying? We need a bit of balance.
Comment on this
I am not telling lies. That is the story today. A family of seven would have to pay €700 in the Bon Secours hospital.