Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1140. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated number of students that will receive a free antigen test prior to their end of semester exams commencing; the estimated number of students that will receive a free antigen test prior to the end of the first semester of 2021-2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62936/21]
View answerThe intention of Government is to strengthen the prevention and intervention measures around COVID-19 in response to the changing context. My Department recognises the potential role of rapid antigen testing as one part of a package of surveillance and vigilance measures including self-monitoring and other public health measures.
Following public health advice to the sector from the Expert Advisory Group on Rapid Testing, advice which is published and available on the Department’s website, a once-off fund of €9m to provide rapid antigen testing kits to students in further and higher education has been announced by my Department.
To answer the Deputy's question directly, the intention of the fund is not related to examinations but to encourage the use of antigen testing amongst students and will involve:
- Providing funding to institutions via the funding agencies to make a small number of antigen tests available free to students
- Respecting the autonomy and flexibility of institutions in deciding at institutional level how best to provide these tests to students as soon as practicable
- Developing a communications campaign for students to increase the awareness of rapid antigen testing and their appropriate use.
The fund will be made available to further and higher education institutions through SOLAS and HEA (including to the private institutions represented by HECA) to ensure that we promote the use of antigen testing amongst young people.
The timing of its use will differ across institutions and the wider sector. In this regard the information regarding distributions undertaken prior to the end of semester 1 of 2021/22 is not readily available at this time.
In addition to this once-off specific fund, the UniCov study continues in a number of universities.
