Dr. Siobhán Kennelly:

I agree with Deputy Shanahan on this. A number of CHOs have put in place training in order that the nursing homes can run that testing. Part of that is about then being able to get the tests to the relevant laboratories. A national testing pathway is being put in place through NPHET and the HSE. That will be available to us in due course in terms of how testing will be upscaled.

The other question the Deputy asked was about the possibility and the role of antibody testing in a nursing home population. Unfortunately, we have very little evidence that antibody testing will play a huge role, particularly in that population, in residents' ability to mount immune responses, so we cannot say with any assurance that that would be the appropriate way to go. We are, however, with HIQA and others, very conscious of the role of visits, which a number of Deputies have highlighted, so that guidance is being reviewed and will go through NPHET - I hope on Thursday, as mentioned - in order that we will be able to start opening up visiting in our nursing homes again.