Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020
765. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of passenger locator forms completed to date in November 2020; the number of follow-up phone calls made to persons that completed a passenger locator form in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40415/20]
View answerFor 1st – 30th November 2020 there were over 96,000 COVID-19 Passenger Locator Forms completed.
The Passenger Locator Form was launched in an online format in August and supports an enhanced system of engagements with arriving passengers, including the targeting of key public health messages via SMS. Passengers may be contacted by SMS or phone call to verify their address in Ireland.
From 09 November travellers with an essential function or need, as listed in the recent EU agreement of 13 October, are not required to restrict their movements while exercising the essential function and are not requested to verify their address.
Over 27,000 incoming passengers confirmed their place of address via SMS and more than 24,000 additional phone calls were made to verify place of address. In November 2020 78% of incoming passengers, who were not travelling for an essential function, verified their place of address. It must be noted that Passenger Locator Form data is not static, as passenger contacts via SMS and calls in November may relate to passengers that arrived in late October.
