Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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825. To ask the Minister for Health if an antigen test confirming that a person had Covid-19 can be used to obtain a recovery certificate recognised for EU travel purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9815/22]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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868. To ask the Minister for Health the way that persons aged 4 to 39 years that followed public health guidance and used antigen tests to detect Covid-19 positivity following onset of symptoms, can now obtain a Covid Recovery Certificate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9994/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 825 and 868 together.

The EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation (EU) 2021/953 creates a framework for the issuing, authentication, and validity of certificates. Under the scope and parameters laid out in the EU DCC Regulation, DCCs for recovery cannot currently be issued on the basis of an antigen test.

There was very significant demand for PCR testing during December and into January due to unprecedented levels of infection in the community, largely driven by the Omicron variant and reflecting both the high prevalence of the disease and also other respiratory illnesses at the time. The HSE made every effort necessary to address this very significant demand arising for PCR testing. This included making arrangements with private providers to add capacity, extending the opening hours of swabbing centres and ongoing recruitment and redeployment to swabbing teams, and increasing the number of National Ambulance Service mobile teams.

Due to demands on PCR capacity reaching the levels they did, changes were necessary to public health guidance, making antigen tests more widely available and allowing the HSE to prioritise access to PCR testing for those most vulnerable to the disease.

Information on travel requirements within Europe is available at the Re-Open EU webpage: reopen.europa.eu/en