Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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262. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the engagement she has had with the Minister for Health given the current lifting of Covid-19 restrictions to ensure that the Gaeltacht summer colleges will be able to fully operate in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25115/21]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the outcome of the extensive consultation process undertaken with the Irish Language Summer Colleges sector over the previous few weeks.

During the consultation process, a representative group of Gaeltacht households who provide accommodation for students, as well as course operators expressed significant concerns around health and safety, due to COVID-19, were courses to proceed.

On foot of the feedback received and the concerns expressed, a decision was taken not to proceed with recognised Irish courses this summer. 

I understand that this will be disappointing for many young people who were looking forward to attending this year.

I am also conscious of the economic consequences of the decision for Gaeltacht communities. For this reason, officials from my Department are continuing to engage with the sector over the coming weeks to tailor insofar as possible, suitable stabilisation measures with a view to ensuring the sector is on a sound footing for a full and safe return in 2022.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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263. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to allow for test events in licensed venues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33331/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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On Friday May 28th the Government agreed pilot events will take place in June and July. My Department has worked with the Arts Council and a number of stakeholder engagement structures in place to support the development and delivery of those pilot events. The first event took place in the Iveagh Gardens on the 10th of June in collaboration with the National Concert Hall and further events will take place across the course of the summer.

These events will assist in safely charting a path back to greater levels of activity in line with developments in public health guidance over the coming weeks and months. Pilot events are necessary as a proof of concept for the safe management of events whilst COVID-19 is still circulating in our communities and in order to evaluate, adapt and build confidence in the COVID-19 guidance and event management protocols developed by the culture and sports sectors.

Events are planned across the country including in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Thurles, Kilkenny and Killarney a number of which will be taking place in licensed venues.  

I  will continue to keep these matters under review as the pilots progress and as public health guidance evolves.