There is capacity for 30,000 PCR tests a day "more than was ever the case at any point in this pandemic", Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said as Sinn Féin claimed the Government "has failed drastically to plan" to cope with the demand.
Mr Vardkar said there had been an “extremely high and sustained demand for Covid-19 testing” over the last number of weeks.
He was responding during leaders' questions in the Dáil to Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty who pointed to social media commentary that it is easier to get tickets to a Garth Brooks concert than an appointment for a PCR test.
He said people were posting that they were willing to swap tickets for a PCR slot, “and while that may be a bit of light banter, the reality is very very serious”.
The Taoiseach said “this reflects both the high prevalence of the disease in our community at the moment, but also the fact that there are a lot of other respiratory illnesses and other viruses circulating in the community at the moment as well”.
He insisted that no system in any country “could cope with the demand when hundreds of thousands of people every day are experiencing symptoms of colds and flu and Covid and other illnesses”.
The Tánaiste said they had to prioritise and “priority has now been given - where a GP has felt that a test is warranted they’re being given priority. And also priority has been given to close contacts who are symptomatic.”
The HSE is “making every effort necessary to respond to the very significant demand arising for PCR testing, including the approval of additional community test centres, centre staff, and also making arrangements for private providers were available” to deal with delays.
Mr Doherty said “it’s impossible to book a PCR test in most of the State as we speak” with no slots available in Dublin or in Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Louth, Meath. Offaly, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford or Wicklow.
In other counties there are a number of slots left “which I’m sure will be gone within the next number of hours”.
Mr Doherty claimed “this is a direct result of the Government’s failure to plan which is seen again and again throughout the course of this pandemic.
“We see GP services overwhelmed. We see schools that are struggling. We still don’t have a plan from Government in relation to making antigen tests free or even subsidised, and we are nearly two years into this pandemic.”
He told Mr Varadkar the “sharpest impact” will be seen in intensive care units (ICU) where “the ongoing capacity crisis in ICU didn’t happen overnight” but was a legacy of successive governments and ministers for health and you were one of those ministers. Indeed, you were taoiseach during a portion of those years.”
“On the brink of Christmas we now find ourselves in another crisis and that is inexcusable,” he said, adding that not having access to PCR testing is the difference between many people getting paid or not.
“It’s all good and well to tell people sure, take a few days off while waiting for a test, but for many workers and families that simply isn’t an option.”
Mr Doherty said.”it’s like déjà vu” every year during winter. The problem is that the Government did not use the time during the easing of restrictions to plan, he said.
The Tánaiste told him “the problem that we’re facing is that we have a pandemic,” that is not under control and is unpredictable. They had the highest capacity ever since the outbreak of the virus with 30,000 tests a day.
“But there are limits to capacity in any system in any country.”
He said the people who have been told to self isolate or are at home waiting for a test “do qualify for the enhanced illness benefit payment and that remains in place and is paid at a much higher rate than was the case in Northern Ireland for example”, where Sinn Féin were in power.
