Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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336. To ask the Minister for Health the impact analysis carried out before the decision on a two week quarantine was taken; if consideration was given to the impact this will have on those commuting to work, for example, in the UK on a weekly basis, to persons that may travel home for occasional weekends with families and to persons that may have to travel home for a family emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9776/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The measures taken are underpinned by a clear public health rationale.

As the number of indigenous cases here declines and Ireland eases some restrictions, the relative importance of the risk of importation of cases from overseas increases. Ultimately, the progress towards suppression of community transmission which has been achieved and which should allow for greater resumption of social and economic life in Ireland could be endangered.

The public health advice for passengers arriving into the State from overseas is to self-isolate for 14 days.

By contrast, since 28 May, it is a legal requirement for passengers arriving from overseas to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form. The information on the form may be used to assist our contact tracing teams.

The issue of imposing mandatory self-isolation for a 14-day period, to be considered as the situation evolves, was mentioned in the Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business. My Department, in consultation with other relevant Departments including the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, is developing proposals to strengthen the 14-day self-isolation arrangements for travellers from overseas. Careful consideration is being given to exemptions to any mandatory regime of quarantine.

Any mandatory arrangements would be kept under regular review.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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337. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to allowing persons with holiday homes outside the 20 km zone to be given permission to travel to them to carry out essential maintenance and upkeep on these homes earlier than the anticipated date in the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9777/20]

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 current public health advice regarding travel is that people are asked to stay local. People may travel within their own county, or 20 kilometres from home if crossing county boundaries, to visit local venues or amenities such as parks and shops that have reopened as part of the Government’s Roadmap. The regulatory framework underpinning this public health advice is Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (SI No. 206 of 2020). Travel for essential purposes is permitted under the regulations.