John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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116. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by swimming pools that rely heavily on the offer of swimming classes due to Covid-19 restrictions; her plans to lift the restriction on swimming classes early in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43745/20]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the difficulties to which the Deputy refers.

I have recently written to all National Governing Bodies of Sport, including Swim Ireland, indicating the Government's concern to ensure that sport can continue to play the maximum possible role in sustaining people’s physical and mental wellbeing and consequently their general morale. In that context, the Government has asked my Department and Sport Ireland to engage urgently over the coming weeks with the sporting bodies to consider all available evidence and data for the purposes of informing the development of tailored proposals and approaches for future mitigation measures. It is envisaged that, depending on the prevalence of the virus, such proposals would enable the Government to review and potentially adapt the suite of public health measures currently applying to sport and exercise activities such as swimming.

I have asked the sporting bodies to make written submissions to Sport Ireland and I would anticipate in that context the receipt of a submission concerning the return of swimming classes. It is my intention that the outcome of the current consultation with the sporting bodies would be considered by Government early in the New Year.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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117. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 232 and 248 of 8 December 2020, if her Department will issue an official statement or circular clarifying the situation. [43755/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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On 1 December, the country moved to a modified Level 3 of the Government's Plan for living with COVID-19. Under these restrictions, all dance and exercise classes remain suspended. There is, however, provision for individual and one-to-one instruction at this level. This guidance applies to sport, exercise and dance. While dance studios are therefore closed at Level 3, they can provide facilities for use in individual dance practice or dance training.

The Arts Council is in the process of preparing guidance on individual dance practice/training which will be available shortly. In the meantime, Sport Ireland guidance for individual training should be referred to in these cases which can be accessed at the following link:

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While these measures mean that individual activities can take place, individual training and one-to-one instruction should not be viewed as a way on reintroducing organised dance classes which are specifically precluded under the current public health measures.

The Government is aware of the vital role that exercise and culture have played throughout the pandemic in contributing many benefits to the physical and mental wellbeing of people.