Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Participants in sports such as gymnastics, basketball and karate are getting back to training in sports and community halls throughout the country. They need that outlet to keep physically healthy and active and for mental health as a coping mechanism to help them deal with this strange world we live in now. They also need it as a social outlet, even if it means reconnecting with people from a social distance.

None of these benefits is limited to the world of sport and yet it is only sport training that we are allowing under level 3. Dancers throughout this country are dancing in their living rooms instead of preparing for their Christmas shows. Those dancers and performing artists deserve the same treatment as our athletes. They deserve to practise too. Not every child or adult is sporty. People get their kicks in different ways. That is a why kick dance is as important as a karate kick, or why speech and drama is as important as soccer and drills. However, our level 3 guidelines say differently. The Cabinet at which the Minister sits is telling children who dance and their parents that they are not as important as children who do sport. That could not be further from the truth or from the values that I know this Government holds dear.

I ask the Minister to correct this anomaly, to give those kids equality and fairness, and to give them something to look forward to and a light at the end of the level 5 tunnel. Let them get back to feeling the rhythm of our national Irish dance in their feet, the buzz of modern dance through groups such as Dancity Ireland in their bones, and the elegance of ballet in their spirit.

When I raised this issue in the Chamber last month, the Ceann Comhairle told me he felt like tripping the light fantastic after I spoke. Today, however, silent protesters are lining Kildare Street, asking why no lights are tripping for them. I met and chatted with them. I promised to continue to advocate for them and to bring what they said outside the Dáil into the Chamber where decisions are made in order that I can help effect change and deliver equality of opportunity for them. This is a major issue for dancers. We are talking about denying them their passion after they have already endured months upon months of lockdown. They need that outlet now more than ever and it is especially unfair on those who study for dance, drama and music exams.

I asked the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, if any additional risk was posed by dancing. I thought perhaps that was the reason dancing was not included in the level guidelines. Just yesterday, he told me clearly it was not about that but about the indoor aspect. That is the nub of this and that is why I do not understand why dance practice is not allowed when Sport Ireland issued guidelines to allow for sport practice in what they are terming "pods of one".

Like Sport Ireland organisations, dancers will make sure their premises are safe and clean and that physical distancing is in place. They will jump through any hoop as long as they can start pulling their moves again because they love to dance. They understand that they cannot dance at level 5. However, at level 3 when indoor sports training is allowed, once participants maintain social distancing, then it is nothing short of discrimination not to let our dancers practise their passion. I ask the Minister to give our dancers their rhythm back

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy. I am acutely aware of the significant impact that the Covid-19 crisis continues to have on the sectors my Department supports. The framework of restrictive measures is a risk management strategy designed to allow individuals, families, businesses and services to better understand, anticipate and prepare for the measures Government might introduce in response to the escalation of transmission of Covid-19.

The priority in level 3 is to keep health services, schools and early learning and childcare services open and to minimise disruption in the workforce. To keep people safe, the public are asked to reduce the number of people they meet to a minimum and stay in their own county until 18 December. Tourism, culture, arts, Gaeltacht, sports and media activities usually involve audiences and people congregating. This is the very thing that health experts advise that we try to minimise. We need to reduce the number of people congregating across a range of settings to reduce the spread of the virus.

As the Deputy will be aware, from 1 December the country has moved to a modified version of level 3 of the Government's plan for living with Covid-19. Under these restrictions, all dance and exercise classes remain suspended. However, there is provision for individual and one-to-one instruction at this level and, to clarify, this guidance applies to sport, exercise and dance. While dance studios are closed at level 3, they can provide facilities for use in individual dance practice or training.

The Arts Council is in the process of preparing guidance on individual dance practice or training, which will be available early next week. In the meantime, the Sport Ireland guidance the Deputy referred to for individual training may be used. This is available on the Sport Ireland website, and measures to reduce the risk from one-to-one instruction under this guidance include staggered start and finish times, combined with appropriate entry, exit and traffic management protocols to limit the interaction of participants at any one time; pre-booking, which is essential; participants arriving ready to train and leaving immediately; no equipment sharing; and activities taking place in a predefined area that is visually marked out and directionally signed. The space required in this area should reflect the nature and intensity of the activity, and there should be in excess of 2 m social distancing between each of the predefined areas. The cleaning and ventilation of facilities should be conducted in accordance with the Government's most recent Work Safely Protocol, and instructors should refer to HSE guidance on wearing a face mask covering.

While these measures mean that individual activities can take place, individual training and one-to-one instruction should not be viewed as a way of reintroducing organised dance classes, which are specifically precluded under current public health measures. However, as I said, the provision is there for individual one-to-one instruction as I have described at this level. To clarify again, this guidance applies to sport, exercise and dance. While there is understandable frustration in many sectors about the current restrictions, the focus in the run-up to Christmas is on allowing as many activities to proceed as possible while at the same time being mindful of the priority of safeguarding public health. I will continue to engage with all sectors over the coming weeks with a view to working towards the full and safe reopening of society and all individual and group activities as public health allows.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for her reply. This is the third time I have raised the issue of dancing in the Chamber, and she is the first Minister to take on board what I and the dancing community have said. It is exciting to hear her give us this clarification today. It is a promise to rectify the anomaly and to treat equally children who dance and children who do sport.

The Minister's actions will give dancers back their rhythm. I am excited to welcome the formal guidance. I call on her to publish it as soon as possible to give dance practitioners clarity and direction on being allowed to train in pods of one 2 m apart. The Arts Council is well placed to work with Sport Ireland, which has published guidelines to allow sports to return. Allowing dancers to return to what they love doing will be amazing.

I ask that the guidelines be used to address music tuition. The Minister has outlined that they do. Her response will have a practical and positive impact on the lives of children across the country. It means that dancers and performing artists can practise together, albeit 2 m apart and once they arrive separately, wear face masks and stay safe. That is all they want. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire for meeting the passion of dancers with the compassion of the Government.

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for the opportunity to provide that clarity. I acknowledge the representatives from the dance and arts community who attended the protest at Leinster House. Unfortunately, I had a scheduled meeting that prevented me from meeting the group today. I assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to reopening society and the economy as soon as it is safe to do so. As I have done since becoming Minister, I will continue my ongoing engagement with the community. I appreciate the benefit that arts have on societal well-being and children's development. The Government will give further consideration to this matter in January. I believe in enabling children to express themselves through dance and other forms of physical activity. Sports are also beneficial and necessary for children's development.

The focus in the run-up to Christmas is on allowing as many activities as possible to proceed while being mindful of the priority of safeguarding public health. If people continue to adhere to public health measures, the opportunities for the transmission of the virus will be minimised. By continuing to adhere to the measures diligently, we hope to be able to open up even more activities in due course.