Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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340. To ask the Minister for Health the arrangements for checking that persons arriving into Ireland from abroad have a negative PCR test result; if the test result is verified pre-departure, upon arrival or both; the person or body with responsibility for checking the test results at each stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10939/21]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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341. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons arriving into Ireland from abroad who presented a negative PCR test upon arrival; and the number who failed to present a negative PCR test in each week from 1 January 2021 to date in tabular form. [10940/21]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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342. To ask the Minister for Health the steps taken to date in the case of persons arriving into Ireland from abroad without a negative PCR test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10941/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 to 342, inclusive, together.

Under S.I 44 of 2021, arrivals to Ireland from overseas are required to have evidence of a negative / not-detected result from a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival to the State.

S.I. 44 of 2021 places obligations on carriers to take reasonable steps to inform passengers of the test requirement, to check for the relevant test result prior to boarding, and to refuse to facilitate travel in the event that the carrier is not satisfied the passenger has a relevant test result or is covered by an exemption.

Arrivals to the State through a port or airport must present the test result to the border officials at the point of entry. Overseas arrivals who enter the State via Northern Ireland are required to retain the relevant test result for 14 days after arrival and to produce it if when asked to do so by a member of An Garda Síochána.

Arriving passenger who present to border officials without a relevant test result are referred to An Garda Síochána. They must also agree to complete a PCR test within 36 hours of arrival or will be committing an additional offence.

The Department of Justice has provided the following data on cases referred to the DPP by An Garda Síochána due to passengers failing to produce a relevant test result.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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343. To ask the Minister for Health the number of checks that have occurred in each week from 1 February 2021 to date on persons quarantining at home after arriving into Ireland; the number in each case of SMS, telephone, and Garda checks; and the number of persons who were compliant and non-compliant in tabular form. [10942/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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All passengers arriving to the State are required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator form, there are limited exemptions from this requirement for international transport workers, diplomats and children under 16. The form is used to support a system of engagements with arriving passengers including the targeting of public health messaging by SMS and email and may be used for contact tracing.

Passengers who completed a Passenger Locator Form and do not claim an exemption are followed up and contacted by SMS to confirm their address. Where a person has not responded to the address verification text, they will be called to verify their place of address. If they are not available at the first call, further attempts will be made to contact each passenger who is in scope for follow up calls. Between the 1^stand 14^thof February inclusive, 82% of passengers requested to do so confirmed their place of residence.

S.I. 44 of 2021 requires travellers arriving to Ireland from overseas to observe a 14-day mandatory home quarantine in the address given on their COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form. Travellers may take a second PCR test no less than 5 days after arrival and a ‘not detected’ test result can end the quarantine period. Arrivals from Category 2 countries must complete the full 14 days of quarantine - regardless of test results during the period.

Passengers are issued with public health information and reminders of the requirement to quarantine via SMS during the 14-day period.

My Department is liaising with An Garda Síochána on adherence to home quarantine requirements.