Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Sherlock for the opportunity to discuss this matter.

The framework for restrictive measures contained in the Covid-19 plan, Resilience and Recovery: The Path Ahead, sets out information on the staggered start of easing of other areas of restriction, with a focus on outdoor activities, including sport. For guidance purposes, dance has been included under sports under the different levels of the plan. This easing is dependent on whether the transmission of the virus reaches acceptable levels, the vaccination programme progresses as planned and the public health advice allows.

The approach to each phase is subject to ongoing review and will, at all times, take account the evolving epidemiological situation. All decisions taken by the Government on the timing of the lifting of restrictions are informed by the public health advice at the time of the decision. The framework sets out when it is considered that organised indoor or outdoor events can take place. Subject to the prevailing disease situation, from 26 April last, underage, non-contact outdoor training in pods of 15 or fewer, which includes dance, can resume with protocols. In these cases, robust protocols and protective measures, including appropriate supervision and capacity limits, should be in place.

The Arts Council has worked with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to develop guidance for children and young people's arts and cultural activities. This guidance was published last week on the Arts Council's website and it will continue to be updated in line with relevant changes to public health measures in the coming months. The guidance was reviewed by the Department's external health and safety advisers to ensure compliance with Resilience and Recovery: The Path Ahead, the stay safe guidelines and the work safely protocol.The guidelines will assist those engaging in arts and cultural activities with children to provide a safe and controlled environment that will mitigate the risk of spreading Covid-19. This guidance is a living document, which means that as Government restrictions and public health guidelines evolve, this document will also evolve to reflect new Government advice and changes to protocol as they emerge.

The Arts Council's guidance on young people, children and education may be used for organised cultural activities for children and young people, including early childhood arts activities, arts training and education services that are delivered outside early learning and care.

The Senator may be aware that Government has decided to move ahead with the Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead plan. We are in the early stages of the recovery phases of the pandemic. The decision is based on advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, that a cautious and gradual phased reopening over May and June with an emphasis on outdoor activity and a moderate increase in social contact can be considered low to medium risk. The Senator can find all the details of the roadmap, as well as some of the useful guides, which have been published on the Government website and in newspapers and other media.

The Senator outlined the substantive investment made by music teachers in Perspex and dance teachers measuring out distances and spoke about how some participants may not have been able to participate because of lack of broadband or Zoom etc. I know it is an anxious time for everybody and I hope that in the coming weeks, this anxiety may be eased by lots of young people being able to join those classes, not just online but in person.