David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1497. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of establishing a permanent Covid-19 testing and tracing unit with the capacity to manage 500 cases a day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43139/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The cost of establishing a stand alone testing and tracing facility of the type described is estimated to be €18.6 million per annum.

However, caution should be used in interpreting this estimate as it should be seen within the context of providing a national testing and tracing programme that has regard to regional demand and variation in the scale of response. This estimate also assumes a full year testing and tracing programme of the type that currently exists and does not take in to account any changes which might arise in adapting the programme to expected changing circumstances (such as, for example, as might be expected over the course of the evolving and changing pandemic and considerations such as the broader management of other infectious diseases.) The estimate assumes a consistent rate of testing over the full year period although this is unlikely (and depends on future epidemiological situation, transmissibility of the dominant variant, the nature and location of infections, the effectiveness of vaccines in reducing transmission, public health guidance and measures in place etc). The estimate also assumes that variable costs are consistent across the period although this is also unlikely (e.g. staffing, transport, rent and fit-out, procurement costs etc). Fixed costs are assumed to be similar to present and no estimate of any changes is included and, again, it is likely that maintenance and location of testing centres will evolve over the coming year.

In keeping with the evolving nature of the pandemic, the Deputy may also wish to note the transitionary approach to testing and tracing highlighted in the Government's recently published plan for the next phase of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, "COVID-19: Reframing the challenge, Continuing our recovery and reconnecting”.