The Minister for Education confirmed the news today.

Antigen tests will be rolled out in primary schools on or prior to November 29, Minister for Education Norma Foley has confirmed. Speaking to RTÉ News today, Minister Foley said the HSE will be providing antigen tests free of charge to parents and guardians of every child in a class pod if a pupil within that pod tests positive for Covid-19. Should two or more cases of the virus arise outside of the original pod within seven days, antigen tests will be provided for the full class. Under the new measure, parents will be asked to inform the school if their child tests positive for Covid-19. The school will then inform the parents of the other children in the class pod. The minister added that as part of the scheme, the HSE plans to have a fully-operational call centre in place to organise the delivery of antigen tests from November 29. In response to the move, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation told RTÉ: "For eight months the government has procrastinated and failed to implement the recommendations of an expert group who proposed a pilot antigen study in primary schools. "Infection levels are rising in our schools and the wider community at an alarming rate. Swift deployment, clear guidance and a full suite of supports for schools will be essential if this measure is to have the necessary impact on our schools. "Once again, we call on the Government to launch an effective national public awareness campaign designed to stop those who are symptomatic from attending our schools."