Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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1587. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE will consider offering free Covid-19 PCR tests for patients travelling to the UK for essential treatment; if he has had discussions with the HSE in relation to circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34370/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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COVID-19 tests for the purposes of travel, both to and from the State, can be sourced via private testing providers, in order to preserve the testing capacity of the HSE for priority groups and public health screening.

Arrivals to Ireland can now show evidence of vaccination, recovery or a negative / non-detected RT-PCR test upon arrival. Persons travelling with a negative / non-detected RT-PCR test must ensure that it was taken within 72 hours of arrival. There is no requirement that the RT-PCR test must be completed in the country of departure.

These travel measures are kept under continuous review based on public health advice and the international epidemiological situation.