Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Nash for raising this issue to discuss the need for a permanent Covid-19 testing centre in Drogheda. Testing and contact tracing continues to be a key component of the Government’s response to the pandemic and is fundamental to identifying the source and containing the spread of the virus. Demand for testing at this time is very high with approximately 216,000 tests conducted in the last seven days. This demand on the testing and tracing system is due to the high level of infection currently being experienced in the community. The HSE has significantly increased community PCR test capacity to 25,000 tests per day and with the current high demand of people using the self-referral online portal, when booking a test one may find that there are no appointments available.

Appointments become available at different times during the day, so people should try again later. If anyone with symptoms has concerns about booking a test, he or she should contact their GP. The HSE is prioritising those who are clinically referred to it and symptomatic close contacts. The HSE is routinely assessing locations where community testing centres are located. The HSE, in particular, has the goal of ensuring that well in excess of 90% of the population have access to a centre within a 45-minute drive from their residence. I should add that any individual who has a medical condition that prevents him or her from getting a test centre can be referred by a GP for a home test.

On an ongoing basis, in response to regional demand, the HSE evaluates options to augment capacity through the use of pop-up centres. I am informed by the HSE that there are currently two test centres open in Louth, located in Ardee and a pop-up centre currently in Dundalk. The permanent site located in Ardee was selected following a detailed evaluation as it best met defined criteria, including suitability and sustainability of the location as a long-term testing centre. In addition, travel times from both Dundalk and Drogheda, as the Deputy is aware, are about 25 minutes.

It is important to reiterate the public health advice that anybody waiting for a test who has symptoms of Covid-19 should continue to isolate until they are 48-hours symptom-free. This should minimise any impact for a person who may have to wait a number of days for a test.

The HSE is currently taking every necessary action to respond to the significant current demands, which includes working with private providers to add new capacity, extending the opening hours of swabbing centres, ongoing recruitment and redeployment of swabbing teams, and doubling the number of National Ambulance Service mobile teams. It is currently continuing to monitor the need for testing centres and the most appropriate locations where they open at any given time. This includes ongoing consideration of the need to open pop-up centres or the relocation of permanent centres or both in response to demand.

The Deputy has asked about Drogheda and, as he has said, it is Ireland’s biggest town with a population of 50,000, which is one of great significance. This is not my area but I certainly feel that the Deputy has a point which he has argued very validly. There was a pop-up centre in operation in Drogheda on 27 and 28 November and 2 and 5 December. There will also be such centres in Dundalk on 6 and Friday 10 December. I agree that for a town that size, the suggestion makes sense and I will bring back the Deputy’s concerns to the HSE. If he wishes, perhaps he might send me in an email and I will pass it on for the attention of the HSE.

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