“People with both intellectual and physical disabilities are being ignored by the government in the rollout of the vaccines for Covid19” says Drogheda Councillor Paddy McQuilan who works with people with intellectual disabilities who live in community houses.

“We have situations where individuals with disabilities, whether they are in a home setting or a residential setting need to be prioritised when considering the vaccination rollout” says McQuillan.

“Since the outbreak of Covid 19 these individuals have been unable to attend their day care centres which are essential to their physical and mental well-being.

“These day care centres cannot reopen until the vaccines are rolled out to service users and care staff. These individuals have been, to all intents and purposes, trapped in their homes since March ’20.

“The government needs to step up to the mark and prioritise people with intellectual disabilities for the vaccine. St John of God, one of the largest services caring for citizens with intellectual disabilities, cares for over 250 people in residential settings and has over 700 frontline caring staff.

“Families caring for people who would normally attend these day care centres are also being ignored by the government.

Councillor McQuillan says he has made representations to Minister Donnelly through TD’s and Senators but that all of his requests have fallen on deaf ears.

“The government’s handling of the vaccination rollout is nothing less than a shambles. The intellectual community, their carers and their families deserve better. The government is failing them. The government need to act and act quickly.