DUBLIN AIRPORT is to open up two Covid-19 testing facilities this Thursday, though getting yourself checked won't come cheap.
Passengers travelling through the airport will be able to partake in either a drive-thru or a walk-in test.
Behind the initiative are private healthcare companies RocDoc and Randox.
For Randox's walk-in test, prices begin at €99, and results take between 24 hours and 48 hours to be produced.
RocDoc's drive-thru 'express' test is a little faster, with results available within five hours, but it's a little pricier at around €159.
RocDoc launched a similar initiative in Cork and Shannon airports last week, and they claim that at Dublin Airport, they'll be able to roll out around 12,000 tests a day.
"This will shortly be expanded to 15,000," the company added.
Dublin AirportPassengers will need to register and pre-book their tests for the time being while travelling through Dublin Airport, just as they have to do at Cork and Shannon airports.
Dublin's testing facilities have been implemented to follow Ireland's adoption of EU's 'traffic light' system for international travel.
The hope is that testing at the airport can be become efficient enough that passengers can move freely in and out of the country without delay, restriction or isolation.
Last week, the Irish government granted Dublin Airport planning exemption to build the testing facilities on such short notice.
"We have been keen to provide testing at Dublin Airport for some time and the Government's recent decision to grant planning exemption, which we welcome strongly, will enable two testing facilities to open this Thursday," said Vincent Harrison, the airport's Managing Director.
"Ireland needs a rapid low-cost Covid-19 testing system for travel similar to those being trialled and used in other countries using antigen testing."
