Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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95. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has a strategy in relation to bringing the arts back in a social distanced manner to the rural community; if so, her plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24437/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Government has published the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021, the Plan for Living with COVID-19. This Plan sets out clearly the balance between public health, economic and social aspects of living with COVID-19 will operate in the short to medium term.  It will to bring greater certainty so that society and business can move forward.

The current Level 2 of the Roadmap  is based on a medium-term approach to managing risk.  At all times the priority will be to keep our schools open, while keeping people safe and protecting the resilience of our economy and communities.

There is new guidance for  indoor and outdoor sports  and training  together with cultural events in theatres and other arts events.  There is also an enhance focus on wellbeing.  The new Roadmap is available at this link .

The Government's Plan includes provisions in respect of community wellbeing  that recognises safe engagement in and watching of our favourite sports and cultural activities, both personal and collective, plays a vital role in protecting our mental health and  well-being. The Plan also seeks to facilitate and preserve the significant cultural and sporting landmarks in Irish life, both at local and national level and commits to putting  communities and counties at the centre of solutions for their own areas in terms of recovery.  In that context,  a refreshed Government Wellbeing/Together/Resilience campaign will be developed including a local campaign element delivered by local authorities to promote awareness of and participation in local programmes, initiatives and amenities.

Furthermore, additional supports are being provided to all sectors affected by the impact of COVID-19, additional funding has been provided in 2020 to the arts and performance sectors including an additional allocation of €25m to the Arts Council, and a €5m measure to support live performance under the July Stimulus.