To ask the Minister of Health to detail the steps he is taking to ensure residents of Northern Ireland can access the cheapest option for the mandatory COVID-19 testing kits being sold by government-approved providers for travellers returning from amber list countries; and for his assessment of why some UK-based government-approved test providers state they do not ship to Northern Ireland.

From 5 May 2021 international arrivals to Northern Ireland have had the option to book their post-arrival travel test package from a list of private test providers available via the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/find-travel-test-provider. These private test providers declared that they meet the minimum standards required by UKAS.

From 11 February 2022, those fully vaccinated, under 18 years old and on certain clinical trials will no longer be required take part in any post or pre arrival testing as a requirement to enter Northern Ireland when arriving from a non-red list country. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated must still take a pre departure test and a post arrival PCR test taken on or before day 2.

My Department recognises that the cost of travel related tests can seem expensive however the cost has fallen since the launch of private sector testing.