Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Alamy Stock Photo

Up to 28,000 babies to be offered RSV vaccine this autumn

Last winter, there has been a sharp spike in RSV, prompting the HSE advise parents to “cocoon” very young babies.

UP TO 28,000 babies are to be invited to take part in a vaccination programme against for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) this autumn and winter. 

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will today ask Cabinet to approve the vaccination programme for infants born between September 2024 and February 2025.

Parents will be encouraged to vaccinate their newborns before leaving the hospital and the vaccine is expected to be effective for up to five months – the average length of an RSV season. It is understood that protection from the vaccine is immediate once administered.

In an interview with The Journal last year, Donnelly said the vaccine is already in use in Spain and appeared to be “really -effective”. However, due to its cost, Ireland had to negotiate a price with the manufacturer.

Last winter, there has been a sharp spike in RSV, prompting the HSE advise parents to  “cocoon” very young babies, who are particularly vulnerable.

Last year there were 1,397 RSV hospitalisations in infants under one year of age, and the majority of these (1,017) were in infants less than six months of age.

⁠In Winter 2023/2024 there were 118 paediatric intensive care unit admissions in infants under one year of age attributed to RSV and adult ICU beds had to be placed on standby for paediatric patients due to the high numbers being admitted to hospital and ICU.

As a result,⁠ ⁠Donnelly drew up plans for a vaccine programme to start for newborns in September following advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) that vaccines were safe and effective.

⁠NIAC noted that preliminary data from a clinical trial conducted in Europe during winter 2022/23, involving over 8,000 infants, reported an 83% reduction in RSV-related hospitalisations in infants.

Donnelly has been advised that applying the evidence to the Irish infant population could result in the avoidance of up to 453 hospitalisations and up to 48 ICU admissions if there was a 50% take-up among newborns this autumn/winter.

⁠NIAC has also advised that analysis of cost effectiveness and programmatic considerations are required to determine the most appropriate permanent RSV immunisation strategy.

HIQA has been asked to carry out a rapid health technology assessment of immunisation against RSV in Ireland, which will include infants and older adults.

Bulk-buying update

Separately, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien is to update Cabinet on homeownership rates and restrictions around bulk-buying.

He will tell ministers that guidelines issued introduced in May 2021 mean by the end of May, almost 50,000 new houses and duplex units have been ring-fenced for owner occupiers. Apartments were not included in the measure.

Last month, Taoiseach Simon Harris said has said he wants a review carried out into the bulk buying of properties by private investors.  

He told reporters he wants a new review to look at both taxation and planning measures that can further prevent the bulk buying of properties. 

The standard rates of stamp duty on residential property are 1% on values up to €1 million and 2% on values exceeding €1 million.

A higher 10% rate of duty comes in when someone acquires at least 10 properties during any 12-month period.

In May 2021 the government introduced a 10% stamp duty on the bulk purchase of family homes by investment funds. 

However, in July 2021, the Government passed a controversial amendment to allow funds to side-step the 10% stamp duty if they leaseback homes to the State for social housing.

While the government says the measure has proven to be a “significant disincentive”, critics such as Sinn Féin has said the measures do not go far enough. 

Special educational needs 

In addition to the housing and health memos today, Education Minister Norma Foley is bringing a memo to cabinet about the plan to hire 44 therapists on a permanent basis to work with teachers and children with special educational needs in the classroom.

It is understood that it had been very difficult to fill the roles for 39 speech and language therapists (SLTs) and occupational therapists, as well as five behavioural therapists, because they were on a temporary basis.

The Department of Public Expenditure has now sanctioned that the roles can be advertised as permanent positions.

The therapists will work collaboratively with teachers in classrooms to improve learning outcomes for students.

This has been successfully piloted in schools and is known as the School Inclusion Model.

Immigration

Justice Minister Helen McEntee will also bring a number of updates to Cabinet in relation to immigration, including an update on the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, to which Government has agreed to opt-in.

Approval of the opt-in is required from both the Dáil and the Seanad, with debates scheduled in both Houses for this week. The Pact has been under negotiation at EU level since 2016.

McEntee will tell ministers that a shared European response is needed to better respond to the global challenges of asylum and migration, and that by opting into the Pact, Ireland’s laws on both matters will be fully aligned with the EU for the first time. 

New legislation will therefore be introduced to replace the International Protection Act 2015, which is no longer fit for purpose. That legislation will also be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny and will be debated in both the Dáil and the Seanad as normal.

There will also be full debate and scrutiny on how the Pact is implemented in Irish law.

The new legislation will include a number of changes, including “stronger border security, with more collection of fingerprints and photographs of new arrivals; faster processing of all applications, with legally binding timeframes for decision making; and fast-track processing at designated centres for people who arrive with no documents or from countries which are generally free from war and persecution”. 

It will also include a greater focus on returning unsuccessful applicants to their home countries, or to other European countries they have travelled through, and a new solidarity mechanism to give greater support to countries such as Italy and Greece that are at the front-line of migration pressures.

The Minister will also seek Cabinet approval to introduce a number of legislative changes in a Bill to be enacted before the summer recess.

These include increasing the current maximum carrier liability fine from €3,000 to €5,000 in instances where they are found not to have upheld their obligations in ensuring passengers have appropriate documentation.

The Bill will also allow certificates of citizenship to be revoked in very limited circumstances. For example, where the person presents a credible threat to the State, or where citizenship has been procured through fraud. 

McEntee will also update Government on further investment in the international protection system.

She will tell Cabinet that this will require 400 additional staff to be hired in the next 12 months, which will build on progress to date.

This includes the doubling of staff working in the International Protection Office, which the Department says has led to a corresponding trebling of the number of decisions issued.

The Minister will also increase the current target of 1,100 IPO decisions per month to 1,800 decisions per month and then to 2,200 decisions per month.

International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) capacity will be increased to deliver some 1,000 appeals monthly initially, and subsequently 1,250 a month.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Moses
    Favourite Moses
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 7:06 PM

    Greed.

    814
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Corporate Interests
    Favourite Corporate Interests
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 7:27 PM

    @Moses: You just call out my name
    And you know, wherever I am
    I’ll come runnin’
    To see you again…

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute I'm Far Right
    Favourite I'm Far Right
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 10:45 PM

    @Moses: It’s perfectly reasonable. You can’t be going around looking at stuff for free. I live in quite a scenic area and the other day I saw some fella looking at some lovely things, bold as brass. I was having none of it. Stood in front of him until he left, so I did. Cheeky git.

    335
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona Liston
    Favourite Fiona Liston
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 7:30 PM

    We have done this lovely walk many times.(And contributed to the local economy by staying in a bnb and purchasing locally). I would not pay to walk again.

    589
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Luma plex
    Favourite Luma plex
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 7:32 PM

    @Fiona Liston: Plenty that will. We don’t need ya

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Walsh
    Favourite Sean Walsh
    Report
    Jul 31st 2023, 11:02 AM

    @Luma plex: I’m assuming you’re joking. If not, you think it’s ok to charge people to walk in the fresh air ? And people give out about expensive Dublin ? Clare will become the new rip off place to visit.

    85
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jb Walshe
    Favourite Jb Walshe
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 7:09 PM

    Very surprised the comments are open on this article…..the articles for commenting on are getting fewer by the day for some reason !

    435
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Roy Dowling
    Favourite Roy Dowling
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 7:14 PM

    @Jb Walshe: After seeing some of the comments that were deleted before closing the comments on the article about the memorial to national soldiers I can understand why comments are not being open on all articles.

    93
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute I'm Far Right
    Favourite I'm Far Right
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 7:49 PM

    @Roy Dowling: Example?

    67
    See 8 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Roy Dowling
    Favourite Roy Dowling
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 8:54 PM

    @I’m Far Right: the most notable one was using Veradkers sexuality to attack him instead of just saying he shouldn’t have been there. No need for it and probably the reason comments were closed

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute I'm Far Right
    Favourite I'm Far Right
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 9:18 PM

    @Roy Dowling: That sounds awful. Hopefully Leo didn’t see it. Poor wee lad.

    71
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fintan Stack
    Favourite Fintan Stack
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 9:20 PM

    @Jb Walshe: those debunked articles are hilarious, usually overlook plenty of facts to suit the explanation and comments are closed in case they’re rumbled.

    100
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Roy Dowling
    Favourite Roy Dowling
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 9:26 PM

    @I’m Far Right: Ah so you are one of those. Don’t know who I’m surprised

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ross O'
    Favourite Ross O'
    Report
    Jul 31st 2023, 4:54 AM

    @Fintan Stack: this is the real reason. Talk about how much you like Coldplay all you like, but don’t come here to discuss serious topics and expect not get censored at some stage by the blatantly biased Journal.

    They must be in trouble if they’re asking for handouts in the middle of an article.

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mies Valkenburg
    Favourite Mies Valkenburg
    Report
    Jul 31st 2023, 6:07 AM

    @Journal Snowflake: …and without so much as a reach-around.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Lynch
    Favourite David Lynch
    Report
    Jul 31st 2023, 7:51 AM

    @Fintan Stack: Well don’t read it if you don’t like it! There are plenty of other Irish news sources if you don’t like The Journal’s values. It’s free. What’s the problem? You pay for what you get.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Mulligan
    Favourite John Mulligan
    Report
    Jul 31st 2023, 6:51 PM

    @Journal Snowflake: yes, we’re the fourth richest country in the world, our worst off are 60% better off than the worst off in the UK, and somebody with four dependent kids who chooses never to work can get state supports including housing that equate to a salary of more than 50k before tax. Our medical care and education are free, older people get a pension even if they never contributed to one, along with free travel.
    So yes, we’re being screwed, we should kick out our centrist governments and replace them with the IRA.
    (Or the weird lad with all the gold bars).

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Charles Mc Carthy
    Favourite Charles Mc Carthy
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 7:19 PM

    Greed, greed and more ******k8n greed. What a sham of a country we have become.

    548
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán Ó Maoildeirg
    Favourite Seán Ó Maoildeirg
    Report
    Jul 31st 2023, 10:01 PM

    @Charles Mc Carthy: It is not the ordinary people who are greedy but it is those few fat Greedy Councilors who firmly believe that it is their job to relieve people of their hard earned money. I haven’t visited the Cliffs since the council began charging for parking. None of my children have never visited the Cliffs. How many people who live within ten miles of the Cliffs will never visit the them?

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mister Bandango
    Favourite Mister Bandango
    Report
    Aug 1st 2023, 10:17 AM

    @Seán Ó Maoildeirg: your kids are missing out. Park in Doolin old village for free, it’s 5 mins walk from walk to Cliffs of Moher, spectacular views along the way – although probably takes 90 mins at least to get to O’Brien’s Tower

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johannes Baader
    Favourite Johannes Baader
    Report
    Jul 31st 2023, 12:21 AM

    I remember when there was just a car park at the Cliffs of Moher. No charge……. no bother at all. Then the greed started to kick in. I haven’t been back since

    198
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Mulligan
    Favourite John Mulligan
    Report
    Jul 31st 2023, 6:53 PM

    @Johannes Baader: you had a car back then? And you’re still driving? Respect!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alex Kane
    Favourite Alex Kane
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 7:06 PM

    Yeay capitalism !

    147
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute I'm Far Right
    Favourite I'm Far Right
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 7:50 PM

    @Alex Kane: You don’t understand what capitalism is.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute I'm Far Right
    Favourite I'm Far Right
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 10:55 PM

    @Alex Kane: Capitalism was the farmers who decided to use their own property as carparks and undercut the council one in price by a huge percentage. That was kind of cool huh? That’s the free market approach but the government doesn’t like the free market competing like that, so they shut down the competition. In short, capitalism was providing a good solution here and the quasi socialist government stopped it.

    156
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Albert John
    Favourite Albert John
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 10:33 PM

    Boycott these activities and let’s see what happens when no money is getting in.

    100
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Zyx
    Favourite Zyx
    Report
    Jul 31st 2023, 5:55 AM

    Comments closed for the protest at Cork City Library. What are you afraid of, Journal? Free speech?

    79
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Newell
    Favourite Tom Newell
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 9:20 PM

    The boom is back baby……greed is good

    84
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Suzanne Mooney
    Favourite Suzanne Mooney
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 7:46 PM

    And what about Lahinch and Lehinch

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry Betts
    Favourite Larry Betts
    Report
    Jul 31st 2023, 12:14 AM

    All these objections are falling on deaf ears. It’s a long long way from Clare to hear

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Murphy
    Favourite Tom Murphy
    Report
    Jul 31st 2023, 6:57 AM

    Well done to the protesters in cork

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute F2yxfluD
    Favourite F2yxfluD
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 10:25 PM

    They’ll be charging to get in to O’Connors or McGanns next.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute eoin fitzpatrick
    Favourite eoin fitzpatrick
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 10:51 PM

    Nothing wild about the wild Atlantic way

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute I'm Far Right
    Favourite I'm Far Right
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 10:56 PM

    @eoin fitzpatrick: It’s wilder than your one bed flat in dcc

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute brian o'leary
    Favourite brian o'leary
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 8:12 PM

    Maybe they could raise the local property tax instead?

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Luma plex
    Favourite Luma plex
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 7:08 PM

    Clare locals should stick to farming and stop moaning. They’re our cliffs now.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Corporate Interests
    Favourite Corporate Interests
    Report
    Jul 30th 2023, 7:25 PM

    @Luma plex: Your cheque is in the post.

    98
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Walshe
    Favourite Stephen Walshe
    Report
    Jul 31st 2023, 8:00 AM

    Thieving c$$ts

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aidan C
    Favourite Aidan C
    Report
    Jul 31st 2023, 10:36 PM

    Questions….
    Surely stopping to drop someone off is not a parking violation…?
    Can the double yellow lines be appealled ..positive action is needed.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lisa naughton
    Favourite Lisa naughton
    Report
    Jul 31st 2023, 10:46 PM

    I was one of the fools that had to pay e12 a person as there was 4 of us in car . To walk along in the rain with the THOUSANDS of others . 1% of them IRISH . 99% TOURISTS. They won’t let u stop the car anywhere near to let people out . As marshalls out moving traffic and ticketing ppl. They even charge u to go into the tower now . So basically rip off ireland at its best . 2 hrs at the cliffs . E48 entrance . 4 Coffees e16 . The rain free , definitely a Mastercard movement.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alpain Snow
    Favourite Alpain Snow
    Report
    Aug 1st 2023, 1:37 PM

    No one should be charged to walk on a cliff.
    No one should be charged to drop someone off.
    And there should be a legal maximum to charge people to park their cars.
    How absolutely ridiculous.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds