Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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2448. To ask the Minister for Health if ten-pin bowling centres will be treated in the same manner as cinemas with regard to Covid-19 restrictions and permitted to reopen with social distancing guidelines put in place rather than applying the same restrictions which apply to pubs and restaurants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37864/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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2464. To ask the Minister for Health when tenpin bowling centres will be allowed to reopen; and the reason they did not reopen at the same time as cinemas. [37888/21]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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2861. To ask the Minister for Health when a business (details supplied) will be allowed to reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39279/21]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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2941. To ask the Minister for Health the rationale behind a particular type of amenity not being allowed to reopen at the current time (details supplied); when such amenities will be able to reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39679/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2448, 2464, 2861 and 2941 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, on 29 June, Government announced the next phase of reopening the economy and society in line with Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead.

While significant progress is being made in relation to the roll-out of our vaccination programme, the rapidly increasing prevalence of the more transmissible Delta variant, and the significant risk this poses, in particular to those who are not yet fully vaccinated, meant that a number of higher risk indoor activities did not recommence as planned on 5 July, pending the implementation of a system to verify vaccination or immunity status.

Disease incidence has increased rapidly in recent weeks, especially among those who are not yet fully protected through vaccination and the outlook for the coming weeks is very uncertain.

Unfortunately, due to current uncertainties there is not yet an indication of when bowling alleys may reopen. The epidemiological situation will be monitored on an ongoing basis and the level of restrictions will be kept under review by Government.

Significant and sustained progress has been made on suppressing the virus over recent months due to the huge effort of people across the country. By working together, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland. To protect the gains of recent months we must continue to practice basic preventative behaviours and to follow public health guidelines.