The Taoiseach spoke over and over again this morning about the Government's commitment to ramping up testing and tracing. I want to raise the issue of the provision of a Covid testing centre for Drogheda. As the Taoiseach knows, Drogheda is the largest town in Ireland but we are left without a Covid testing centre. The people of Drogheda and of south Louth who have been referred by their GP for a test have to travel to another town, and people who do not have transport - listen to this - have been told by the HSE to get the bus. These are people who have been referred by their GP because they are showing symptoms.

It is my understanding the public health centre in the Haymarket in Drogheda, which has been lying idle for some time, is still available to the HSE and has not yet been surrendered, and it could be operational in days as a Covid testing centre.

The Deputy should conclude. Her time is up.

Cases are rising in Louth. Will the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health direct the HSE to examine the possibility of using the health centre in the Haymarket as a Covid testing centre, or another identified site, as soon as possible?

Deputy, please. The time is up.

Cases are rising and that is where the confusion and the chaos lies. The Taoiseach says they are ramping up testing and tracing yet the largest town in Ireland is left without a Covid testing centre. Will the Taoiseach give a commitment so people do not have to put up with this rubbish?

I want to come in on the same point. People in Navan who have been identified as possibly having Covid have also been told they cannot get the test in Navan and have to travel, which does not make sense from any perspective. The idea of people with Covid circulating on the public transportation system or in any manner does not make sense. We are asking people to stay put as much as possible yet we are asking these people, who are most likely to have Covid, to travel for testing. It does not make sense.

Again, the operation of the testing system in terms of locations and centres is organised by the HSE. I will communicate the Deputies’ representations in respect of their towns and their constituencies. The testing programme has been expanded very significantly over the summer and the number of tests has been significantly ramped up as well, which is not being acknowledged but, nonetheless, is a fact, particularly in terms of the serial testing programme, which has been very effective in nursing homes and other locations.