Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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147. To ask the Minister for Health if the costs of antigen tests will be reimbursed for persons over the age of 39 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3663/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The evidence relating to the detection of COVID-19, and the actions deemed appropriate to mitigate the impact of the virus across the population, are kept under continuing review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), the Department of Health and by the Government.

There is very significant demand on the HSE to support those testing programmes identified as public health priorities. It is likely that demand for testing for public health purposes will remain high in the coming period, particularly given the very high current infection rates in the community and the impacts arising in relation to Omicron.

In addition to running a very comprehensive community PCR testing programme, a number of serial testing PCR programmes, and PCR testing in acute hospital services, the HSE, under the guidance and direction of NPHET and the Department of Health operates a number of programmes involving supply of antigen tests, free of charge, to participants. The HSE focus is on supporting programmes with a clearly defined public health purpose. These programmes involve supply of antigen tests, free of charge, to all symptomatic persons aged from 4 to 39; to close contacts, of all ages, of confirmed cases; supporting the Department of Education in supplying antigen tests to children in primary schools as part of a pod in which there was a confirmed case of COVID-19; supporting the Department of Agriculture in the antigen testing programme in food processing facilities and for use for specific indications in the acute hospital setting, and as part of the response to outbreaks in community settings, supported by appropriate clinical governance and operational arrangements. While the focus remains on supporting those programmes with a clearly defined public health purpose, the HSE is also required to prioritise the available stock, supply chain and operational capacity in supporting these ongoing programmes and on continuing the national testing programme for public health reasons.

More widely, the Government’s objective has been to ensure the widespread availability of antigen tests, that are CE marked for self-testing, at an affordable price level, for those people who wish to purchase their own. Following engagement by relevant Government Departments with leading retailers and wholesalers, there is increased competition in the market and the retail price of many of the available antigen tests for consumers are more affordable. While there is increasing competition in the international supply chain, the Government continues to keep affordability low with the implementation of a zero VAT rate for all Covid-19 test kits and ongoing review regarding availability.

A comprehensive, cross-Government communications campaign on the appropriate use of antigen tests, to ensure there is clear message to the general public on when and how they should be used has also been launched and guidance material has been published on the HSE website and on gov.ie. The HPSC has also published rapid antigen testing programme guidance.

The role of testing and contact tracing and public health advice relating to face masks, as part of the wider public health response, has been under ongoing review throughout the pandemic and will continue to be reviewed and amended in line with the epidemiological profile of the disease, its impact on healthcare utilisation and outcomes, the vaccination status of the population and ECDC guidance.