Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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654. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to revisit the way in which outdoor golf may resume in the context of allowing clubs to permit non-member fee paying visitors to use their courses that live within the county and or within 20km from their home as a matter of urgency in view of the fact that this arrangement will provide immediate potential to raise revenue and mitigate further losses due to not being in a position to facilitate social and society golf; and the reason for restricting the number of persons that can play together per tee time. [20050/21]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In the context of the Government’s COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery Plan 2021 – The Path Ahead, it has been agreed that the public health restrictions will be subject to ongoing review taking account of the evolving epidemiological situation and available evidence in relation to vaccine deployment, uptake and effectiveness. Any easing of measures should be slow and gradual with sufficient time between phases to assess impact and to respond if the epidemiological situation was to deteriorate. It will take account of emerging international and national evidence and experience and with a specific focus on supporting mental health and wellbeing.

As part of that gradual easing of measures, from the 26^thof April participation in a range of outdoor sporting activities, such as golf, is to be allowed subject to adherence to the generally applicable measures concerning social distancing, mixing between a maximum of two households and the travel limits within counties or within 20kms of one's home if crossing county boundaries. .

The public health regulations do not draw a distinction between members and non-members in the case of golf, which is a matter for the NGB concerned, Golf Ireland, and its affiliated clubs to manage the available capacity in each club in accordance with the above-mentioned measures.

I would refer the Deputy to Golf Ireland's website, which contains the detailed protocol developed for the gradual resumption of golf from the 26th of April.