Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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358. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if persons with special needs could be allowed access to outdoor sporting facilities; if tennis, handball, basketball and golf will be deemed an essential service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35230/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Given the current epidemiological situation with high incidence of disease, widespread community transmission, and considerable numbers of hospitalisations and deaths, it has been necessary to put in place very significant restrictions to arrest the current trajectory of the disease and break transmission chains. This means asking people to stay at home and eliminating as much activity and contacts as is possible to ensure that opportunities for the virus to transmit are minimised, while allowing essential activities to continue. Unfortunately, this means minimising discretionary activities including sporting activity.

While the Government fully understands the benefits that sport brings to peoples overall health and well-being, including older persons, and persons with disabilities and special needs, the measures in place to suppress the disease transmission are intended to minimise the risks to public health while striking the right balance in prioritising and protecting some activities over others. Such activities include health and social care services, education and other essential needs, work and economic activity, and other key societal interests (in so far as possible) such as sports and important family gatherings.

The categories of essential services which are permitted to continue in the current Level 5 public health restrictions are set out in the Health Act 1947 (Section 31a - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 8) Regulations 2020. In this regard, the delivery of essential education and social services for persons with special needs are matters for my colleagues the Minister for Education and Skills and the Minister for Health.

The Government recognises the impacts COVID-19 and the related public health measures are having on our mental health and well-being. The “Keep Well” campaign, launched on 29th October, is aimed at showing people of all ages and abilities how we can mind our own physical and mental health and wellbeing by adding healthy and helpful habits to our daily and weekly routines. It provides guidelines, information, and tips on things that will help us keep well through the coming months. All of this is available on gov.ie/healthyireland.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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359. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is considering allowing outdoor sports facilities to open for persons that are vulnerable and in need of regular exercise including older persons, persons with disabilities and special needs and those suffering from isolation during level 5 Covid-19 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35241/20]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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360. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is considering allowing outdoor sports facilities to open for persons that are vulnerable and in need of regular exercise including older persons, persons with disabilities and special needs and those suffering from isolation during level 5 Covid-19 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35285/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together.

Given the current epidemiological situation with high incidence of disease, widespread community transmission, and considerable numbers of hospitalisations and deaths, it has been necessary to put in place very significant restrictions to arrest the current trajectory of the disease and break transmission chains. This means asking people to stay at home and eliminating as much activity and contacts as is possible to ensure that opportunities for the virus to transmit are minimised, while allowing essential activities to continue. Unfortunately, this means minimising discretionary activities including sporting activity.

While the Government fully understands the benefits that sport brings to peoples overall health and well-being, including older persons, and persons with disabilities and special needs, the measures in place to suppress the disease transmission are intended to minimise the risks to public health while striking the right balance in prioritising and protecting some activities over others. Such activities include health and social care services, education and other essential needs, work and economic activity, and other key societal interests (in so far as possible) such as sports and important family gatherings.

The Government recognises the impacts COVID-19 and the related public health measures are having on our mental health and well-being. The “Keep Well” campaign, launched on 29th October, is aimed at showing people of all ages how we can mind our own physical and mental health and wellbeing by adding healthy and helpful habits to our daily and weekly routines. It provides guidelines, information, and tips on things that will help us keep well through the coming months. All of this is available on gov.ie/healthyireland.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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361. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the indoor sporting activities that will be permitted at level 3 and 4 when there is an easing of restrictions; if socially-distanced indoor classes can continue under levels 3 and 4; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35288/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Government's Resilience and Recovery Plan 2020-2021 provides for indoor individual training only in Levels 3 and 4. It also states explicitly that there should be no exercise or dance classes in these levels. The Plan also states that gyms and leisure centres are not permitted to open in Level 4 restrictions.

On the matter of social distancing, Sport Ireland guidance to the sport sector emphasises that social distancing should be adhered to insofar as it is possible at all levels of the Plan. Exercise class providers should strive to ensure that social distancing is maintained in all their classes, for example by limiting occupancy at their premises and enforcing physical distancing between participants. These practical measures can play an important role in preventing disease transmission.

While I am pleased to note that that COVID-19 data indicates improvements across a range of indicators, which gives us hope that the epidemiological situation is once again coming under control, it is too early at this point to consider the easing of restrictions. The current Level 5 restrictions will continue until 2 December.

The Expert Group on the Return to Sport, which was established by my Department in May 2020 has considered the matter of indoor individual training as permitted in Levels 3 and 4 of the Plan. Guidance in draft form has been shared with other relevant Departments. Following completion of the consultation process, it is my expectation that this guidance can be published in the near future, in sufficient time for its application under the appropriate level of the Government’s Resilience and Recovery plan.