The Taoiseach has said he supports making antigen tests "more affordable", amid growing public concerns over the cost and availability of the rapid tests.
NPHET and health officials have started recommending the wider use of antigen tests across society.
In his letter to Government last week, Dr Tony Holohan said people who regularly engage in "higher risk activities" should consider self-testing at least twice weekly.
Those activities include going to bars, restaurants, nightclubs, the cinema, multi-household visits, playing indoor contact sports, and car-sharing with people from other households
It's among the recommendations now set to be considered by ministers when they meet this evening and tomorrow to review the current COVID situation.
There have already been reports of the rapid tests being more difficult to find in shops as people start self-testing more regularly.
Dermot Twomey, President of the Irish Pharmacy Union, told Lunchtime Live they're already hearing "anecdotal accounts" of businesses having issues in securing supplies of rapid tests.
He said: “Over the last couple of weeks, the demand has increased hugely compared to where it was.
“The key point is that antigen testing needs to be at an appropriate level of cost - subsidised or free at point of use.
“We are seeing huge demand for them… the key thing is we need to get more of them, and make them more affordable for people.”
'Prohibitive' costs
Limerick Councillor Elisa O'Donovan took one of the rapid tests over the weekend, and is now raising concerns about the 'prohibitive' cost involved.
She observed: “The antigen test cost me €7.95 in the local pharmacy. Going by the HSE recommendation, they say antigen testing is more accurate if you do a series of tests over three days.
“I bought three antigen tests, so in total it cost €24. Which is very prohibitive for most people.”
Councillor O'Donovan pointed to the UK, where the rapid tests are currently free and available in a variety of settings.
She said: “Here, I think people are a bit confused about where you go to get them. I’ve been recommended to go to Aldi, Lidl, the petrol station…
"We really need a comprehensive awareness campaign about where to get these, but I would suggest they must be free if we really want a culture of utilisation of antigen testing.”
Separately Taoiseach Micheál Martin has acknowledged there are lessons to be learned from the UK's approach.
He said: “Certainly I would support subsidisation of antigen tests and making them more affordable, essentially, for people over the coming period - in particular in getting through the winter period.”
