Government Abandon Plans To Subsidise Antigen Tests

The cancelling of plans for subsidised antigen testing has been described as a dereliction of duty.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly confirmed this morning Government won't subsidise the cost, saying the market had already stepped in to provide cheaper tests.

Delayed last week and cancelled this week.

He says cheap antigen testing is now widely available.

But Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall thinks he's making a mistake.

It comes as the Chief Medical Officer and senior NPHET officials will meet the heads of the Government parties this evening to discuss the spread of the new Omicron variant.