Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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462. To ask the Minister for Health the reason behind the decision to cease sports for children and young persons in community clubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29704/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's Strategy ‘Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19’ sets out a Framework of 5 Levels which outline the broad measures which will apply depending on the level of the virus at any given time. The Plan is designed to help everyone – individuals, organisations and sectors – to better understand, anticipate and prepare for the measures that might be introduced to contain transmission of the virus.

Each level contains a “basket” of measures which are intended, collectively, to contribute to lowering risk of transmission in alignment with the risk level at that time. The set of measures, individually, do not comprise a list of activities or places which are equally safe. Instead, they are “baskets” of measures which are informed by public health understanding of the disease and recognise we can and must prioritise some activities over others. There are naturally difficult choices to be made in which activities to permit.

Sports, arts and other social activities are recognised in the Plan as being central to our well-being. At Level 3 indoor training is only permitted on an individual basis, therefore indoor sports classes cannot take place. Non-contact training is permitted outdoors, in pods of up to 15 people.

The Plan is clear that sectorial guidance also applies and in the above case guidance from Sport Ireland should also be considered:www.sportireland.ie/covid19/sport-faqs.