James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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111. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the current guidelines permit organised running events such as an event (details supplied) or other club or charity fun runs; the guidance in relation to same; when same will be allowed if not already permitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33016/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I wish to clarify that parkruns, as with similar charity or community runs, whilst a valuable and inclusive recreational activity for many communities countrywide, are not a sporting activity governed by a recognised National Governing Body of Sport (NGB) and are therefore subject to the rules governing organised outdoor gatherings, not sports events or training events.

Activities undertaken and organised under the auspices of the relevant NGB (in this case Athletics Ireland) are permitted under the regulations in place governing sporting events, subject to compliance with the conditions and protocols that these recognised bodies have put in place in order to ensure participant safety and public health. Guidance on the organisation and running of such events should accordingly be sought and obtained from those NGBs in the first instance. Consultation with the relevant Local Authority would also be required for events taking place in the public realm.

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.