Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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378. To ask the Minister for Health if rural hotels will be allowed open a takeaway food service in phase 2 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business in circumstances (details supplied). [10039/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business, published on 1 May 2020, sets out an indicative path to the easing of COVID 19 restrictions and other actions in order to facilitate the reopening of Ireland’s society and economy in a phased manner. Phase 1 was introduced on 18 May 2020 and, as the Deputy is aware, the Government confirmed the move to Phase 2 of Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business from Monday, 8 June 2020. Information and advice about the restrictions that have been eased as part of Phase 2 and the measures that are now in place are available on the Government website at .

The Roadmap specifies that decisions in relation to which actions will be taken and which public health measures might be lifted will be made in accordance with the Framework for Future Decision-Making which is as follows:

1. Before each Government consideration of the easing of restrictions, the Department of Health will provide a report to the Government regarding the following on/off trigger criteria:

a. The latest data regarding the progression of the disease,

b. The capacity and resilience of the health service in terms of hospital and ICU occupancy,

c. The capacity of the programme of sampling, testing and contact tracing,

d. The ability to shield and care for at risk groups,

e. An assessment of the risk of secondary morbidity and mortality as a consequence of the restrictions.

2. It will also provide risk-based public health advice on what measures could be modified in the next period.

3. The Government would then consider what restrictions could be lifted, having regard to the advice of the Department of Health as well as other social and economic considerations, e.g. the potential for increased employment, relative benefits for citizens and businesses, improving national morale and wellbeing etc.

4. It is acknowledged that there is also an ongoing possibility that restrictions could be re-imposed and this process will be carried out on an ongoing basis once every 3 weeks.

As is clear from the framework described above, it is the Government rather than I or my Department that will decide on any modifications to the current public health measures in place and those decisions will be informed by the status of the on/off trigger criteria and the public health advice received at the time that a decision is being made.

The Regulations which currently apply, and are in operation until 29 June 2020, are the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (SI No. 206 of 2020).

The Regulations provide that outlets selling food or beverages on a takeaway basis are permitted outlets at this time.

However, the Deputy may wish to note that the Regulations provide that the occupier, the manager, or any other person in charge, shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that members of the public are not permitted, or otherwise granted, access to a premises or to a part of such premises, where a business or service of a type such as an outlet selling food or beverages whether on a retail or wholesale basis and whether in a non-specialised or specialised outlet, is carried on or otherwise provided other than insofar as they sell food or beverages on a takeaway basis or for consumption off the premises. This includes outlets in relation to which an on-licence (within the meaning of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 (No. 24 of 2018) applies.

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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379. To ask the Minister for Health when day-care centres for persons with Alzheimer’s disease will reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10042/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Day care services play an important role in enabling people with dementia to continue living in their communities, and the Government appreciates the work of these services. The Department of Health and the HSE are undertaking work to determine the current level of service delivery in the community and to set out plans, including associated required capacity, to resume services, including day services, in line with the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. This process will take on board the learning of the current period, including the possibility of delivering services in a new way, and the requirement to adhere to public health guidance. This means that services, whilst being delivered in new ways, will gradually be restored to older people, including people with dementia.