Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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223. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when Irish dancing classes and events will be permitted to return as it is a form of sport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27673/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Government’s Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021 – The Path AheadFramework sets out when it is considered that organised indoor or outdoor events can take place. Dance classes are included with organised indoor and outdoor events. Since 10 May 2021 organised outdoor gatherings with a maximum attendance of 15 people can take place. In all cases robust protocols and protective measures, including appropriate supervision and capacity limits, should be in place.

In the meantime, the Arts Council has worked with my Department and with industry experts to develop guidance for children and young people’s arts and cultural activities. This guidance is published on the Council’s website. This guidance was reviewed by my Department’s external Health and Safety advisors to ensure compliance with:

- The Government’s Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021 – The Path Ahead;

- The Government’s Stay Safe Guidelines;

- The Government’s Work Safely Protocols.

The guidelines will assist those engaging in arts and cultural activities with children to provide a safe and controlled environment which will mitigate against the risk of spreading COVID-19. This guidance is a living document, which means that as government restrictions and public-health guidelines evolve, this document will also evolve to reflect new government advice and changes to protocols as they emerge. The Arts Council’s Young People, Children and Educationguidance may be used for organised cultural activities for children and young people, including early-childhood arts activities and arts training and education services that are delivered outside of early learning-and-care, formal education and youth-work contexts.

The Guidance is available the following link ;

www.artscouncil.ie/uploadedFiles/wwwartscouncilie/Content/Contact_us/COVID-19/YPCE%20C-19%20Reopening%20Guidelines_April%202021.doc.pdf.

The Government’s COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 - The Path Aheadplan sets out the Government’s objectives for the full recovery of social life, public services and the economy. The government has decided to move ahead with this The Path Ahead plan. We are now in the early stages of the Recovery phase of the pandemic. The decision is based on advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), that a cautious and gradual phased reopening over May and June, with an emphasis on outdoor activity and a moderate increase in social contact, can be considered low to medium risk. NPHET has advised that there is scope to ease a range of public health measures in this manner with sufficient time between any easing of measures to assess the impact. This allows us to continue through the Recovery phase, focusing on what is safest and generates the most benefit and with a focus on outdoors activities – both social and economic.

I can assure the Deputy that I am engaging on an ongoing basis with Government colleagues on the importance of opening up facilities that support all art forms including dance, as soon as the epidemiological situation improves.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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224. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way an event organiser (details supplied) in County Tipperary can apply or obtain a licence to hold a limited number of live events in the arts and culture sector either indoor or outdoor; if there is an application process or established criteria to be considered under the recently proposed scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27684/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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As the organisation referred to by the Deputy is funded by the Arts Council, any proposal relating to indoor or outdoor pilot live events should be directed to the Arts Council in the first instance.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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225. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to permit live performances at weddings further to the recent meeting between departmental officials and an association (details supplied); if proposals are currently being considered to permit the resumption of live performances at weddings from 7 June 2021 subject to the epidemiological situation and public health advice available at the time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27686/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease, which spreads when individuals and groups come into close contact with one another, enabling the virus to move from one person to another. In certain settings, such as weddings, higher noise levels due to music, can force people into close proximity, requiring them to raise their voices or shout to communicate thus increasing the risk of spreading virus to others. Such activities present a higher risk of transmission of COVID-19. Accordingly the existing Government decision remains in place that no live or loud music is permitted at weddings receptions. As the Deputy is aware, Government will be reviewing COVID restrictions at the end of the month and again in July.

In the meantime, it is hoped to begin hosting a limited number of pilot live events for live entertainment, both indoor and outdoor commencing in June, depending on the epidemiological situation at the time and subject to the rollout of the vaccination programme. Every option for the safe roll out of these events will be considered.

With regard to the meeting between Department officials and the association to which the Deputy refers, I understand that discussions focused on considerations relating to the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS), the details of which are currently being finalised. This scheme aims to contribute towards the ongoing overheads of businesses and sole-traders operating exclusively within the commercial live entertainment sector that have been significantly negatively affected by COVID-19 but do not qualify for other available business supports. Members of the association in question will be able to apply for support under the MEBAS when the scheme opens for applications next month.