Outrage at 'free' antigen tests for Oireachtas staff
Testing will be voluntary with the aim of being used at home. The tests will be free of charge. File picture: Brian Lawless
Antigen tests are to be made available to primary school children, the Minister for Education has confirmed.
The testing campaign is in place for children in primary school as they are not vaccinated.
The tests will be provided to pupils if a child in their pod tests positive for Covid-19.
Parents and guardians are advised to inform the principal is their child tests positive for the virus and the principal will then inform the other parents in the pod without sharing any personal details.
According to Norma Foley, where two or more cases arise in a class within a seven day period outside of the original pod, antigen testing will be offered to the entire class.
A call centre is to be put in place by the HSE to facilitate parents having antigen tests delivered to their home. It is expected to be operational on or before November 29.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that antigen tests will be made available to TDs and senators in the next week.
The Oireachtas business committee today agreed to the move, which will see staff at Leinster House also issued the rapid tests.
Testing will be voluntary with the aim of being used at home. The tests will be made available to the members of the Government parties free of charge, with parties covering the cost.
The decision was presented to the Business Committee, having been taken by the Houses of the Oireachtas Service, which runs Leinster House, prompting a letter from Government Chief Whip Jack Chambers, Fine Gael Whip Brendan Griffin and Green Party Whip Marc O Cathaisaigh to offer a "full contribution".
In a statement this afternoon, the Oireachtas said: "The antigen tests will not be free to TDs and Senators. As an employer the Houses of the Oireachtas Service is making tests available free of charge to its staff who have to be on site. This is part of our continued efforts to keep the Parliamentary Community and Workplace safe."
A number of TDs and Senators have already indicated that they will not be availing of free tests until they are free across society.
It is understood at least three opposition members of the committee suggested that Oireachtas members should pay for their tests, but this was rejected.
The Government has thus far rejected the idea that free tests should be widely available, with plans to subsidise the cost in motion.
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said the move is "indefensible".
“It is incredible that arrangements for antigen tests would be put in place for TDs before teachers and children in primary schools.
“The Government has now been promising for months to put in place a system of antigen testing in schools, but we are still none the wiser about the details of any proposed scheme.
"Speaking during the week, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly refused to give any indication of when this scheme is likely to be rolled out.
“In that context, it is indefensible that free antigen testing would be rolled out for TDs before they are made available for teachers and children.
"Schools are under severe pressure from the current onslaught of covid cases and testing is desperately required to identify cases and suppress transmission."
