Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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240. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the recent relaxation of Covid-19 regulations now enables gyms and leisure centres to allow their members to avail of their changing rooms and shower facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47815/21]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In line with the Government approved plan "COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting", a significant easing of the restrictions applicable to sport and organised activity occurred from the 20th of September. From this date, shower facilities & changing rooms can reopen with protective measures in place to mitigate risk in these settings. In this context, however, it is emphasised that the public health management of COVID-19 in Ireland is transitioning, in broad terms, from a focus on regulation and population wide restrictions to a focus on public health advice, personal judgement and personal protective behaviours.

Sport Ireland has issued guidance to the sports sector that outlines a range of important considerations and factors that should guide the usage of shower facilities and changing rooms. This guidance can be found at the link below:

www.sportireland.ie/sites/default/files/media/document/2021-09/return-to-sport-guidance-september-2021-final.pdf

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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241. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a dedicated helpline and email address will be created for business owners in the tourism hospitality industry to seek clarity on the permissibility of planned events in the context of public health advice during the pandemic. [47871/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Extensive guidance is currently available on the Government website, www.gov.ie, and the associated sectoral guidelines for the tourism and hospitality sectors is available on the Fáilte Ireland website (www.failteireland.ie). This guidance, which has been developed in consultation with the sector, provides clear advice on whether or not it is appropriate to proceed with planned events. From 22 October, as set out in Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting, the Government hopes to be in a position to remove the majority of restrictions. In the circumstances, I have no plans to create a dedicated helpline or email address.