Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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847. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if golf clubs and courses are permitted to operate on a pay and play basis during the phase 1 restrictions of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9462/20]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business is based on public health advice and sets out a variety of public health requirements for each of its five phases.  Phase one of the Roadmap provides for participation in a range of outdoor sporting activities such as golf, on condition that it is undertaken in groups of no more than four people, at a location within 5km of the households of all those involved and where social distancing can be maintained at all times. The manner of payment is not material to the foregoing requirements.

Clubs and facilities affiliated to the National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of the sports permitted under phase 1, including for golf, have developed detailed protocols to ensure compliance with the public health requirements for this phase. These protocols facilitate compliance with travel distances, participant numbers and contact tracing. In many cases, the NGBs are applying a ‘member only’ policy for phase one.

The Expert Group on Return to Sport has assessed the protocol prepared by the National Governing Body concerned and has advised that non-members may play golf subject to compliance with the various requirements of each phase of the roadmap, including the travel distance requirement of 5kms applicable for phase one, which is envisaged to be extended to 20kms from the commencement of phase two on the 8th of June, if public health circumstances permit.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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848. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will meet with representatives of taxi drivers from organisations (details supplied) in view of the difficulties faced by taxi drivers as a result of Covid-19. [9601/20]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I am scheduled to attend the next meeting of the Advisory Committe on Small Public Service Vehicles, sometimes known as the Taxi Advisory Committee, on 25 June 2020. As you may be aware, the Committee's role under s.73 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 is to advise the Minister for Transport in relation to issues relevant to small public service vehicles and their drivers.

A number of SPSV drivers sit on this Committee and given the role of the Committee, it would be inappropriate to meet with other SPSV drivers until after I have had the opportunity to meet with the Committee.