The Heath Minister is working from home after experiencing “mild symptoms of COVID-19.”

A spokesperson for the department said Stephen Donnelly immediately self-isolated and arranged a test which returned a not detected result.

The Department of Health’s budget briefing which was due to take place today has ben pushed back to tomorrow.

“Minister Donnelly will continue to follow the public health advice (including working from home) and encourages anyone who experiences symptoms of COVID-19 to self-isolate and get tested straight away,” said the spokesperson.

Under the current public health advice anyone who experiences COVID symptoms must continue to self-isolate until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours.

Yesterday’s budget saw a pledge to increase core spending on health by €1bn to €20.38bn next year.

Some 8,000 new posts are to be created across the system and a €250m package has been set aside to shorten waiting lists.

Free contraception for women aged 17 to 25-years-old is also being introduced as part of a €31m “dedicated women’s health package”.

Much of the finer detail of how the money will be spent will be announced at the department budget briefing.