Testing centre accessibility
Deputy Costello complained that a community testing centre had closed, forcing people without cars to travel long distances for PCR tests. The Taoiseach said testing numbers were very high and promised to raise the accessibility concern with the HSE.
I raise the issue of accessibility of testing services. While this is obviously a nationwide issue, I will give just one example from my constituency. Until recently, the HSE had a community testing centre at the old health centre on Emmet Road in Inchicore. That is now closed and people in the area who are looking to be tested are having to go out to Citywest or Dublin Airport. According to the Central Statistics Office, CSO, there are places in my constituency where 75% of households do not have access to a car. How are they supposed to get to Citywest or the airport when we are telling them not to use public transport? I have raised with the HSE the need for local community services that are accessible to people who do not have access to a car and who cannot or do not drive. I got a reply from the HSE but not really an answer. Will the Government ensure there are accessible testing services at a community level-----
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-----instead of forcing people to schlep all the way out to Citywest when they do not have a car?
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First, to be fair to the HSE and everybody, we are doing 225,000 PCR tests a week now. I remember the hue and cry in here more than a year ago when 100,000 tests were being done. We are now at 225,000 and the target is to get to 250,000. Within that framework, obviously, the HSE will do everything it possibly can to make testing more accessible to people. That can be challenging in terms of logistics and getting the right locations. I will take on board what the Deputy said and communicate it to the HSE.