BREAKING: HSE announces change of venue for Offaly's vaccine hub

In a change to what had been announced last month, a hotel in Tullamore will now be used as Offaly's centre for Covid-19 vaccinations.

In a statement issued at lunchtime today, the HSE said the Tullamore Court Hotel would be the county's vaccination centre, and not the Faithful Fields GAA complex in Kilcormac as previously indicated.

In mid-February, the Minister for Health announced 37 sites for vaccination centres across the country.

The Faithful Fields complex was listed as the Offaly centre, though it was noted at the time that the contract for its use had not been finalised.

In a statement today, the HSE said the decision to move the vaccination site to the Tullamore Court Hotel had been taken after "a detailed suitability review" of the locations announced last month.

A spokesperson said the change of venue had been decided based on a range of factors including the length of time for which it would be available, internal space layout, "staff welfare facilities", car parking, transport links, and costs.

A date for the opening of the vaccination centre in Tullamore has not yet been fixed.

"Work will now commence on setting up the centre at the Tullamore Court Hotel which will come on stream as needed, and once there a dedicated workforce and available vaccine," said the HSE spokesperson.