The Covid-19 Digital cert helpline is expected to go live this morning for anyone who has an urgent query about travelling within the EU.
Officials at the Department of Taoiseach are urging people not to call the helpline only in emergency situations for those who are travelling in the short term.
Liz Canavan, Assistant Secretary General at Department of the Taoiseach said people should wait for a few days for their vaccine cert to arrive via email or post.
The Covid-19 Digital Cert helpline number is 1800 851 504.
Ms Canavan has said officials from the Department of Social Protection and Revenue will be taking calls from anyone who is travelling soon and has urgent queries.
“We’re asking people to have patience,” Ms Canavan said.
The helpline will not be able to facilitate the earlier issuing of digital Covid certificates for people who have recovered from infection, according to Minister of State Ossian Smyth.
He told RTÉ’s Claire Byrne show people looking for Covid-19 recovery certs should contact the HSE's call centre and not their GPs following a "misunderstanding" that GPs would have a role in issuing the certs.
In response to Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley, Ms Canavan has said recovery from Covid-19 certs can only be issued via the call centre from July 19.
She said from July 19 the call centre will be in operation and before that date, “we won’t be able to process requests.”
The emergency helpline in operation this week won't be able to process any recovery certificates.
Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin earlier told Morning Ireland that those who have recovered from Covid-19 can apply to a GP or a test centre for a recovery cert.
However, Mr Smyth said people should contact the HSE’s call centre, which will then check if they had a positive test in the last six months and issue the certificate.
The Department of Health said that it expects all of the EU Digital Covid Certificates due by email, to be issued by Thursday.
Fully vaccinated people have started to receive the certs via email and in the post this morning.
Ms Canavan said the travel certs will be issued over the next few days as they are being sent out in batches.
