Dr. Ronan Glynn:

In broad terms, for anyone who is symptomatic, anyone who is a contact of a case, anyone who lives in a congregated setting for direct provision or is homeless or a member of the Roma community living in a congregated setting, that set of testing is due to begin next week. This includes all healthcare workers in nursing homes and, as I am sure the Deputy heard this morning, all workers in high-risk meat processing facilities around the country. That is a level of proactive testing very few, if any, countries in the world are currently undertaking. That notwithstanding, we have a capacity over and above that and that capacity will be vital over the coming weeks and months. It is vital also that it is protected and ready to go when it is needed for those who are symptomatic, parents who are concerned and children who have symptoms and need to be tested. Let us be clear, the 100,000 capacity will be required over the coming months but there is no benefit in using it for the sake of it at this point.