Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1248. To ask the Minister for Health if two-parent households can avail of casual childminding services, that is, grandparents minding in their own home or the household’s home under new restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32773/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On Tuesday 15 September the Government published ‘Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19’. This Plan outlines our medium-term strategy for COVID-19 and 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, families, organisations and sectors – to better understand, anticipate and prepare for the measures that might be introduced to contain transmission of the virus.

At Level 5 of the Plan, we are asked to stay at home, with certain exceptions. Visitors are not permitted to homes or gardens, with the exception of visits for essential purposes, including for family reasons such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people. Households can therefore avail of childminding services, including by grandparents.

People over 70 years of age, those who are at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus because of an underlying health condition and their families should however continue to exercise their judgement with regard to the risks of this and other activities given the current public health risk.

Guidance for people over 70 years of age and those who are at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus is available here:

Additional guidance is available from the HPSC:

Guidance for childminders is available here:

Details of Level 5 measures are available here:

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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1249. To ask the Minister for Health the arrangements in place to allow parents collect and drop back their children for and after visitation rights across different county borders and outside any 5km exclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32774/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On Tuesday 15 September the Government published ‘Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19’. This new Plan outlines our medium-term strategy for COVID-19 and 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, families, organisations and sectors – to better understand, anticipate and prepare for the measures that might be introduced to contain transmission of the virus. Restrictions on domestic travel apply at Levels 3, 4 and 5 of the Plan. No restrictions on travel apply at Level 1 and 2 of the Plan.

At all levels of the Framework, and in all regulations which give effect to measures agreed by Government, provision is made to ensure that parents can continue to access their children. The regulations make clear that it is permitted to travel across county borders (Levels 3 and 4) and further than 5km (Level 5) for these purposes. Travel is permitted for parents of a child; guardian of a child; and a person who has a right of access to a child.

Those who share parenting or custody arrangements are now also permitted to form a support bubble should they wish to and further details on support bubbles is available here:

Current regulations and other Statutory Instruments related to the Covid-19 pandemic are available here:

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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1250. To ask the Minister for Health if he will respond to concerns raised in relation to a school (details supplied) awaiting public health assessment.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32776/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.