Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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776. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if advice will be provided to local sports clubs on reopening their facilities in view of the importance of these clubs in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7469/20]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I have established an Expert Group on Return to Sport, which includes medical expertise, for the purposes of assisting the sporting community in Ireland, in particular the National Governing Bodies of sport (NGBs), to make a safe, phased return to sport in accordance with the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business.

The sporting bodies have sought from my Department and Sport Ireland guidance to assist them in their preparation of protocols for returning to train and returning to play. The Expert Group will provide general guidance to the NGBs on issues common to many sports such as dressing room and equipment hygiene, hand hygiene and other matters, informed by public heath advice and international best practice. I can also confirm that, with the support of the Expert Group, my Department would, provided the Expert Group is satisfied, be able to indicate to the NGBs that their return to sport protocols appear compliant with the Roadmap and public health advice.

To date, in excess of 40 separate protocols have been presented for consideration. The Expert Group will assess these on a phase-by-phase basis, re-evaluating protocols as and when the public health guidance changes.

The Expert Group held its first meeting last week and is to hold its second this week.