Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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548. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the timeline for the reopening of indoor summer camps; if indoor camps will be able to operate during August 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40650/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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On 29 June, Government announced the next phase of reopening the economy and society in line with Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead, with an emphasis on lower risk activities given the risks posed by the Delta variant.

Details of current public health measures can be found online at gov.ie. Gov.ie provides the current position with respect to summer camps:

www.gov.ie/en/press-release/7894b-post-cabinet-statement-resilience-and-recovery-the-path-ahead/#summer-camps. It provides that summer camps should adhere to public health measures on organised indoor and outdoor activities as appropriate, applying at the time. Currently outdoor camps can go ahead, but indoor camps are not permitted.

The public health measures decided upon by Government are also given effect in regulations made by the Minister for Health under Section 31A of the Health Act of 1937. The current regulations made under the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A) set limits on attendances at organised outdoor events and do not provide for any organised indoor events.

My colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has policy responsibility for children and youth, including with respect to play and recreation.