John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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227. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the rationale for allowing certain GAA games, other than at elite level, to proceed while prohibiting soccer and GAA games for similar age groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43416/20]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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It is regrettable that at this time, it is not possible to permit a broader return to competition, but the current Level 3 restrictions are clear that matches and competitive sporting events are not permitted except for professional and elite sportspeople, including specific elite underage competitions. This is in recognition of the need to limit insofar as possible person-to-person contact to prevent transmission of COVID-19. The protocols applied for elite sports training and competition are aligned with international best practice and have been developed in consultation with the Expert Group on the Return to Sport. It is unfortunately not feasible or realistic to expect the application of such rigorous COVID-19 protocols at every level of competition, whether in a club or school.

Under the current restrictions, all clubs can engage in non-contact training outside in pods of up to 15. My Department and Sport Ireland are engaging with the various sporting bodies to inform a review of the measures currently in place for sporting activity, which will be considered by Government early in the New Year. The issue of resuming competitions and leagues will form part of the review.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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228. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in relation to indoor training for a sport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42861/20]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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232. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the rationale behind the decision taken regarding the operation of in-line figure skating under level 3 of the living with Covid-19 plan [42967/20]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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233. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has met with or plans to meet with an association (details supplied) to discuss its concerns regarding the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on its members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42968/20]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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242. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if in-line skating and figure skating are allowed to operate under level 3 restrictions. [43123/20]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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246. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider allowing in-line figure skating, a solitary sport, to resume indoor training so that skaters can avail of the many benefits of the sport for physical and mental well-being; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43314/20]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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247. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) will receive a response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43391/20]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 228, 232, 233, 242, 246 and 247 together.

I would refer the Deputies to the Government's Framework for Restrictive Measures , which outlines the overriding public health rationale for the suite of measures applicable to each of the Framework's five levels.

Under the current level 3 of the Framework, only individual training is permitted indoors subject to compliance with prevailing public health requirements. Sport Ireland has published practical guidance on the measures around indoor sporting activity on its website at: .

Apart from the limited number of exemptions set down in the public health regulations, which are subject to extraordinary levels of monitoring control and supervision that are not amenable to being replicated at non-elite levels at multiple locations countrywide, all other sports are subject to the current level 3 restrictions on indoor sporting activity.

I can confirm that my Department received correspondence from a representative of the inline figure skating and artistic roller skating communities, and that a response has issued, advising that they make contact with Sport Ireland, the statutory body responsible for the development of Irish sport at all levels.