The Minister of State Ossian Smyth has said that the Health Service Executive (HSE) will not give Covid-19 PCR tests to people for free before they go away on holiday.
People looking to secure a Covid-19 PCR test as a means of proof for their European Digital Green Cert before travelling abroad will have to seek private testing, which could cost up to €150 each.
Speaking on Radio 1 this afternoon, Minister Smyth said that he accepts that privately obtained Covid tests "would be costly", but added that the vaccinations provided by the Health Department are free.
Should a person only use antigen tests to prove they are negative for Covid-19, they will be required to quarantine in a hotel facility when they return to Ireland, as antigen tests do not meet the requirements from the Irish government.
At present, fully vaccinated people still need to have a negative or 'not detected' RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before their arrival, but from July 19, when Ireland adopts the European Digital Covid Certificate (DCC), this requirement will end for most adults.
Children will still be required to have a negative PCR test prior to returning to Ireland, even if they are vaccinated after the date.
Minister Smyth told radio listeners that it would be possible to use antigen testing on children of vaccinated parents in the future.
"I will talk to the Transport Minister about this. I can see that PCR tests for children would add considerably to the cost of a family holiday [but that] is the policy at the moment," he said.
"Many times where this virus has reoccurred when it was least expected."
The latest figures from the HSE show that 464 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in Ireland this afternoon.
HSE CEO Paul Reid also reassured people that they are "gaining momentum" in the recovery of systems following the devastating Russian cyberattack which saw personal and confidential information leaked online.
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