Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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72. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the reopening guidelines for non-food pubs will be published; the reason for the delay in their publication to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17510/20]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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73. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the delayed reopening of pubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17511/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 73 together.

In line with the sequence of actions detailed in the revised ‘Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business’, pubs that do not serve substantial meals are due to reopen in Phase 4, which is scheduled to commence on 10 August.

Following receipt of relevant public health guidance the guidelines for the reopening of pubs are being updated by Fáilte Ireland and will be published in the coming days.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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74. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will issue specific Covid-19 return to work guidelines to driver instructors in view of the nature of their profession which entails being in a confined space with their student; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17556/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The decision taken by Government, following the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team, to allow for the reopening of certain businesses, including driving instruction, as part of the revised Phase 3 of the Roadmap for reopening the country, was based on assessments of the level of risk to public health of reopening these businesses. It is not an instruction to open such businesses but a recommendation that it can be safe do so, provided appropriate measures to protect the health of workers and customers are taken.

In terms of guidance to assist businesses, including driving instructors, a National Return to Work Safely Protocol has been produced under the aegis of the Labour Employer Economic Forum and is the result of a collaborative effort by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), the Health Services Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. The HSA has in turn produced COVID-19 checklists and templates, based on the Protocol, to help employers, business owners and managers to get their business up and running again and to inform workers about what they need to do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.

The RSA developed protocols in relation to the resumption of driver testing, based on the overall national protocol and the additional templates and checklists from the HSA. I understand that the National Office of Traffic Medicine was also available to the RSA to assist in its task. The RSA shared these protocols with driving instructors via a series of Frequently Asked Questions when, in anticipation of the resumption of driver testing on 29 June, the Authority wrote to each Approved Driving Instructor(ADI) on 22 June, advising them of the planned phased return of driver testing. These protocols may assist driving instructors in taking the necessary measures resuming their businesses safely.

Neither the RSA nor the Department can instruct driving schools on how they should run their business. It is up to each driving instructor or driving school to protect themselves, their families and customers by adhering to the official Government guidelines on hygiene and social distancing.

When reviewing proposals from the RSA for resuming services in line with the Roadmap, the Department asked about engagement with the ADI sector in relation to the plan. The Department was advised that the RSA was engaging with the Stakeholder Forum for ADIs as well as communicating directly with each ADI to update them and to direct their attention to information on the RSA website including the Frequently Asked Questions. In dealing with ADIs on COVID and indeed on other matters, it is important to note they are not employees or contractors of the RSA but are individual/independent operators.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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75. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if measures will be put in place to prevent incoming travel from countries and regions currently experiencing a high Covid-19 infection rate. [17495/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As you are no doubt aware, the Department of Health is the lead Government Department in relation to public health matters, including COVID-19 and also measures taken at ports and airports in relation to arriving passengers.

Measures to protect public health are recommended by the National Emergency Public Health Team (NPHET) within the Department of Health, and my Department and its agencies follow the government's public health advice.

All queries in relation to public health should therefore be directed to the Department of Health.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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76. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding persons entering and exiting Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17513/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I would like to advise the Deputy that our State Airports have remained open during the Covid-19 crisis to ensure critical supply chains have been able to remain operational, and citizens have been able to return home. While our three State Airports have seen some increases in operations since more passenger flights resumed on 1 July, passenger numbers still remain low. At Dublin Airport, 9m passengers are expected in 2020 (compared to over 32m passengers in 2019). Cork Airport’s overall passenger numbers were down around 90% last week compared to the same period last year. While Shannon Airport has seen a slight uplift in passenger numbers, they also still remain on average over 87% down on this time last year.

Statistics on the countries of departure for passengers arriving into Ireland are set out in the table below . Transfer passengers are not included in the arrivals statistics for airports as Ireland is not the final destination for these passengers who do not leave the airport before travelling onwards to their final destination. A breakdown of arrivals into Ireland of Irish residents returning home or foreign residents visiting Ireland is not available. All statistics set out below are provisional figures provided by the airport and are subject to change.

The first table below shows the approximate number of passengers arriving in Ireland through Dublin Airport for the time periods requested. The figures do not include transfer passengers.

Passengers Arriving in Ireland through Dublin Airport

The second table below shows the approximate number of passengers arriving in Ireland through Cork Airport for the time periods requested. The figures do not include transfer passengers.

Passengers Arriving in Ireland through Cork Airport

The third table below shows the approximate number of passengers arriving in Ireland through Shannon Airport for the time periods requested. The figures do not include transfer passengers.

Passengers Arriving in Ireland through Shannon Airport

In relation to ports, passenger numbers by specific country of departure through Ireland’s ports are not currently available. The below table shows the most up to date information on approximate number of passengers arrivingat Irish Ports in the weeks 29 June to 5 July and 6 to 12 July 2020 .

The Central corridor accounts for services to/from the port of Dublin to Great Britain. This includes sailings to Holyhead by Irish Ferries and Stena Line; to Liverpool by P&O Ferries and Seatruck Ferries; and to Heysham by Seatruck. The Southern corridor includes routes to/from Rosslare- to Fishguard by Stena Line and Rosslare to Pembroke by Irish Ferries. The Continental corridor covers all direct services to/from Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Spain from Dublin, Rosslare and Cork. Passengers services go to/from Rosslare to France and Spain and from Cork to France.

Passengers Arriving at Ireland's Ports