Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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240. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the suspension of Covid-19 testing at meat plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24658/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Government decided in August that the HSE should implement a programme of serial testing of workers in food plants and other large businesses.  To date,  serial testing had taken place of just over 15,000 workers in meat plants, with 42 detected cases - a positivity rate of 0.28%. 

As the Deputy will be aware, the HSE made an operational decision to re-schedule further serial testing in meat plants from the end of last week into this week. Starting last Monday, the HSE began a  schedule of serial testing in meat plants which will involve between 3,000 and 5,000 tests each week.  My Department will provide any assistance requested by the HSE to facilitate this testing programme.  My view is that this testing programme is essential in order to give the assurance that the public needs and expects.