Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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201. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has conducted a risk assessment or received updated advice regarding the resumption of outdoor non-contact training and non-contact outdoor sports or activities for amateur teams and persons. [7960/21]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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202. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has conducted a risk assessment or received updated advice regarding the resumption of indoor non-contact training and non-contact indoor sports or activities and dancing classes for amateur teams and persons. [7961/21]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together.

The resumption of the activities to which the Deputy refers will be decided by Government in the context of its review of the Framework of Restrictive Measures and consideration of the restrictions to apply after the expiration of the current regulations on March 5th.

As the Deputy may be aware, I wrote to all of the National Governing Bodies of sport before Christmas, inviting ideas on how the restrictions affecting sport might be adjusted under Level 3. More than 40 bodies have made submissions to Sport Ireland for consideration by the agency and the Expert Group on Return to Sport. As the level of infection in the community at present remains high, and our health service is under significant strain, it is likely to be some time before it is possible to significantly relax the restrictions on sport and exercise. Nevertheless, evaluation of these submissions is continuing and nearing completion. It is my intention to bring these matters to my colleagues in Government within the next few weeks.

Insofar as risk assessment and advice is concerned, the Expert Group on Return to Sport provides relevant advice to the sporting bodies to inform their own risk assessment, and the majority of sporting bodies have put in place appropriate COVID-19 protocols to mitigate the risk of transmission at training and competitive events. NPHET provides broad public health advice to Government in relation to the overall Covid-19 response, which will be considered by Government in the context of its review of the Recovery and Resilience Plan 2020-2021: Plan Living with COVID-19.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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203. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has engaged with Sport Ireland and national governing bodies, NGBs, in respect of plans to resume sports matches and training for amateur teams and persons. [7962/21]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's clear message at the present time is for people to stay in their homes, unless necessary for those essential reasons set out in the public health regulations. Sporting activity, including sports matches and training for amateur teams and persons, is not considered essential in this context. Planning for the resumption of such sporting activity is however continuing.

I have an ongoing dialogue with the National Governing Bodies of sport through the Sports Monitoring Group. I have also actively sought the views of sporting bodies in regard to how to conduct sport safely. In December 2020, I wrote to all National Governing Bodies seeking submissions on what key modifications, in particular to Level 3 of the Government Framework, can be safely introduced to bring the most benefit to sport. The sector has welcomed this engagement and to date a total of 44 submissions have been received from sporting bodies. Review and analysis of these submissions is currently underway.

I can assure the Deputy that the Government is keen to facilitate the maximum possible level of sporting activity at the earliest possible date once the public health circumstances have improved to the extent required.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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204. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to correspondence from an association (details supplied); and if she has consulted the Minister for Health and the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, regarding same. [7963/21]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the correspondence to which the Deputy refers. The resumption of such sporting activity is a matter for decision by the Government, which affords all Ministers the opportunity to air their views including my colleague the Minister for Health. The Government's clear message at the present time is for people to stay in their homes, unless necessary for those essential reasons set out in the public health regulations.

I have an ongoing dialogue with the National Governing Bodies of sport, including the sport referred to in the correspondence, through the Sports Monitoring Group. I have also actively sought the views of sporting bodies in regard to how to conduct sport safely. In December 2020, I wrote to all National Governing Bodies seeking submissions on what key modifications, in particular to Level 3 of the Government Framework, can be safely introduced to bring the most benefit to sport. The sector has welcomed this engagement and to date a total of 44 submissions have been received from sporting bodies. Review and analysis of these submissions is currently underway.