Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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878. To ask the Minister for Health the cost to date to the HSE of the Covid tracker app; the average daily numbers checking in their Covid-19 status for each month since it was launched; the number of close contacts identified as a result of the app in each of the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51231/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of the Covid Tracker App, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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879. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether the usefulness of the Covid tracker app is undermined at this stage given the very limited numbers routinely checking in their status or leaving their tracker on continuously to aid identification of close contacts; and if a case has been made to end the service or to encourage the public through a publicity drive to re-engage with the app given the dangers of the Indian strain of Covid-19. [51232/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Over 3.5 million citizens have downloaded COVID-19 Tracker App to date and it has been a very successful national digital tool in the continued fight against COVID-19, supporting and speeding up the test and trace services response. The international evidence suggests that we need 25% for it to be effective and we have reached 34% of people over the age of 16 years. Public messaging campaigns around public health continue to promote the app as one of the public health measures to mitigate against the spread of Covid-19.

The app also has a separate function to store citizens EU Digital Covid Certificate if they wish to do so. This has led to a surge in the number of people downloading the app since Ireland started issuing certificates in July of this year. As vaccination rates increase, I am aware that some EU Member States are considering now retiring the Exposure Notification System within their contact tracing apps. Any decision to retire the Covid Tracker App, or features within it, such as exposure notifications, will be taken in line with national public health advice.