Written answers

Tuesday, 22 June 2021

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Covid-19 Pandemic

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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107. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when events (details supplied) will resume; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33046/21]

Photo of Jack ChambersJack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to clarify that parkruns, whilst a valuable and inclusive recreational activity for many communities countrywide, are an activity governed by a recognised National Governing Body of Sport and are therefore subject to the rules governing organised outdoor gatherings, not sports events or training events. While neither my Department nor Sport Ireland provide funding for parkruns, they do however receive some State funding from the Department of Health and the HSE.

The return of parkruns is fundamentally concerned with the removal of the current restrictions on the size of outdoor public gatherings. I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Health, that there continues to be regular contact with parkrun organisers and detailed discussions regarding a return of parkrun events will commence once Government has taken further decisions in relation to the re-introduction of outdoor mass participation events.

I met with representatives from parkrun on 25th May. There has also been engagement through Sport Ireland and the Expert Group on the Return to Sport in which feedback has been provided on the protocols developed by parkrun in preparation for their return to activity. Parkrun has clarified that it does not intend to modify its mode of operation to accommodate current public health requirements and that it is prepared to wait until the prevailing public health situation is such that parkrun can resume in the same way as pre-March 2020.

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