Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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952. To ask the Minister for Health if emigrating to a different country was classified as essential travel during Covid-19 travel restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42903/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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S.I. No. 29/2021 provided for domestic travel restrictions from 1 February 2021 and required persons not to leave their place of residence to go to an airport or port for the purpose of leaving the State without reasonable excuse. These included those persons who were no longer an ordinary resident in the State travelling to the airport or port to leave the State. These restrictions were lifted on 19th of July 2021.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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953. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the distinction of casinos, amusement arcades, play centres and leisure facilities as opposed to indoor dining venues with regard to being an indoor operator permitted to operate under the Covid-19 public health measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41423/21]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1178. To ask the Minister for Health the date on which he will allow children’s soft play centres, snooker halls and bowling alleys to reopen in the context of public health guidelines in view of the fact that other hospitality venues such as licensed premises and restaurants are permitted to allow indoor patrons; and the rationale for keeping such facilities closed at this time in view of the fact that the State has achieved a high degree of vaccination. [41997/21]

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1267. To ask the Minister for Health the expected timeframe for information on the reopening of indoor leisure facilities such as arcades, casinos, bingo and snooker halls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42281/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 953, 1178 and 1267 together.

As outlined in COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting, which was announced by Government on 31 August, leisure facilities where patrons have defined areas which are pre-booked including bowling, snooker halls, indoor play centres and amusement arcades may reopen from 20 September. Capacity is limited to 100 people where all patrons are immune or accompanied minors. Where patrons have mixed immunity status, pods of up to 6 participants will be permitted with multiple pods permitted.

Based on the criteria of at or close to 90% of people 16 or over being fully vaccinated in the coming weeks and having regard to the incidence and behaviour of the disease at that time, from 22 October onwards, restrictions on high-risk activities, including casinos, will be lifted.

Since the onset of the pandemic, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland due to the huge effort of people across the country. Thanks to the hard work of the Irish people and the progress of our vaccination programme, we are now entering a new phase in the management of the pandemic. As our approach to the management of COVID-19 transitions from population wide restrictions to guidance we must continue to practice basic preventative behaviours, including in relation to self-isolation and restricting movements when advised, observing good respiratory and hand hygiene, physical distancing and mask wearing when appropriate.

COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting can be found online: