Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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231. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if rapid antigen testing will be introduced for persons travelling abroad at the end of summer 2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30405/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Government continues to advise against non-essential international travel and that essential travel is undertaken with due regard to public health safety measures. 

The latest government announcement on international travel, which indicates the approach from 19 July, 2021 onwards, subject to the prevailing public health situation, is available on www.gov.ie.

To inform themselves about testing requirements for travel to other countries, passengers are advised to monitor the official advice and information provided by the authorities at their destination. In particular, they should inform themselves of any restrictions on arrival. Country specific information about entry restrictions currently applied by other countries is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs website at .

Passengers travelling abroad should also inform themselves of guidance and requirements for passengers returning to Ireland. Information on these requirements is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/b4020-travelling-to-ireland-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/.

With regards to testing, our public health authorities are responsible for determining the most appropriate testing regimes for COVID-19 in Ireland, and Government is guided by their recommendations. My Department assists with the implementation of public health measures in relation to international travel, as decided by Government. 

I am aware that considerable work has been undertaken to date to evaluate the potential use of rapid antigen tests in an Irish context. The Government has decided, however, that for testing for international travel to Ireland a Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test is the only test that is accepted.