Carers have had a particularly difficult road during the Covid crisis. In the early days of the emergency, respite services were withdrawn and they are still not back operating at full capacity. Before this virus ever came carers were under enormous pressure, but the curtailment in supports during the past two years has forced many of them to face real burnout. This morning carers took to the airwaves again to highlight their plight.

Incredibly, the Government has failed to prioritise carers for the booster. That happened with the initial vaccine too. It was wrong then and it is wrong now. Carers face the serious risk of passing the virus on to the vulnerable people for whom they care. Without protection, they live in virtual lockdown. When will full respite services be restored and will the Taoiseach ensure carers are made a priority group for the booster?

Generally speaking, throughout the vaccination programme the focus has always been on those who are most vulnerable to the disease and who need protection first. That is a clinical decision and it has always been the public health advice. Hence, the older age cohorts got vaccinated first, along with those with underlying conditions and those who are immunocompromised. That has always been the case. With regard to the primary dose and dose 2, it was the correct decision to move to the age cohort approach and to the vaccination centre approach once the older age cohort was vaccinated. It meant a much more speedy roll-out of the vaccination programme. It becomes far more challenging when selecting different groups who are not on any particular register. Many different groups at different times have come forward. Indeed, Deputies have come forward seeking to have different groups prioritised.

Carers are on the front line.

The system that has developed in terms of vaccine efficacy is based on prioritising those who need a vaccine most for health reasons. In the budget a number of measures were taken to support carers in the very valuable work they do and to restore respite services.