Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I fully agree that there has been far too much faffing around regarding antigen testing. As the Minister with responsibility for research and science, I would say that. We need to try everything possible to get people's lives back on track. Roughly speaking, and going on my memory, four institutions - Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, National University of Ireland Galway and University College Cork - are leading on this pilot project. An opportunity to partake will be given to 8,000 staff and students who have been good enough to do so. Some of those involved will be tested randomly, while many will be tested twice a week in a structured way with at least two different tests.

As we come towards the end of the summer, that will then give us an indication of what it may be possible to learn from that project. We can then offer that information to broader society and to other sectors. I welcome the work being done by my colleague, the Minister for Health in respect of his expert group yesterday. If there is found to be a benefit, I will examine rolling out antigen testing more widely across the sector. I thank Dr. Breda Smyth, Professor Paddy Mallon, Professor Kingston Mills, Dr. Mary Horgan and many others who have been leading this project for us. It is well under way now.

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