Privately operated Covid-19 testing centres are opening in Cork and Shannon airports from today.
David Rock, Chief Executive of RocDoc which is running the two centres, has said tests will cost between €129 and €149.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Rock said it will be a 72-hour turnaround time and will be useful for those who might need to travel or want to visit someone vulnerable and require having a test done beforehand.
The company will also offer express tests with results within a few hours at a cost of €199.
"If it is a positive result, customers will receive call from RocDoc to talk about what you will need to do from self-isolation etc," Mr Rock said.
He said the company is expecting the service to be busy and it will help open the economy again for key workers and businesses that need to stay open during this pandemic and keep their workforce safe.
Only 150 Covid-19 tests are set to be carried out initially at Cork and Dublin Airports each day when the system is launched, the Minister of State for International and Road Transport has told the Dáil.
Hildegarde Naughton said this would rise to 300 daily tests before the end of the year.
She was responding to a question from Sinn Féin TD Darren O'Rourke who pointed out that 1.2 million passengers passed through Dublin Airport last Christmas.
Yesterday, Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne said rules will change for those travelling to Ireland from a 'red' region after 29 November, according to the new EU traffic light travel system.
He said passengers who receive a negative PCR Covid-19 test five days after arriving here will no longer have to restrict their movements.
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As part of the European Union's new traffic light system, countries and regions are now categorised as green, orange or red depending on Covid-19 risk levels.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control will publish a weekly map determined by the 14-day incidence and positivity rates of the disease.
