Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 July 2020
239. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his Department oversees responsibility for reporting on the cost of the testing and tracing strategy; if so, the amount spent to date on tracing; the planned budget into the future; if not, the reason the matter does not fall under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16875/20]
View answerResponsibility for overseeing reporting on costing of COVID-19 testing and contact tracing is the responsibility of the Minister for Health in the first instance. However, costs are overseen through the Health Budget Oversight Group, comprising representatives of the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, the Department of Health and the HSE.
Government has to date sanctioned funding of €206 million in 2020 for testing and contact tracing. Estimated expenditure to 03/07/20 totals €46.9m, including €2.8 million on tracing.
The HSE has estimated maximum potential costs for testing and contact tracing for the full year of €414 million. This is the amount that would be required for expenditure should the entire capacity of 100,000 tests be utilised on a sustained basis throughout the year. The average weekly testing levels currently are at much lower levels.
Actual activity levels and associated expenditure associated with the implementation of COVID-19 testing and contact tracing will be monitored, tracked and reported by the Health Service Executive and overseen through the Health Budget Oversight Group.
The HSE will be submitting a strategic plan in August for the longer term requirement for testing and tracing and the costs for the remainder of the year will be further reviewed at that stage. Any additional funding requirement over what has already been sanctioned will be subject to further Government approval.
