JUST 16% of people who arrived in Ireland over the festive period were given follow-up calls to check they were adhering to public health requirements.
Figures released by the Department of Justice, and revealed by the Irish Times, shows what little was done to ensure people were obeying the rules.
Each person who landed in Ireland over Christmas had to full out a form noting a contact number and where they would be staying.
Out of 54,793 people who completed the form between December 21 and January 3, follow-up text messages were sent to 71% of them.
Though just 8,872 follow-up phone-calls were made to check on visitors and ensure they were following the appropriate rules.
Visitors were required to restrict their movements for 14 days upon arrival in order to reduce any potential spread of the virus.
Since the Christmas period, Ireland's coronavirus situation has escalated rapidly, and this week it was revealed that the country had the highest Covid-19 infection rate in the world.
The sharp rise in infection rates has been put down to families mixing over Christmas, and an influx of visitors from England who may have unknowingly brought the UK variant across with them.
Last week, the Taoiseach revealed that the UK variant accounted for nearly 50% of all Covid-19 cases in the country.
As of this weekend, all travellers into Ireland will need to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test.
Initially, this requirement was only for British and South African arrivals, given the two mutant strains of Covid-19 spreading around, but the rule has temporarily been expanded for all passengers.
Tests must be taken a maximum of 72 hours before arrival in Ireland to be valid.
