Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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143. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the engagements she has had with various sporting bodies and others in relation to the return of indoor sports and cultural activities for children. [54945/21]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Minister Martin and I have ongoing engagement with stakeholders in the sports sector, as do the officials in my Department. There are two main groups which engage with the sector, namely the Expert Group on Return to Sport and the Covid-19 Sport Monitoring Group. I have also held one to one meetings with some of the National Governing Bodies of sport.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that Government agreed last week to widen the range of sporting opportunities for young people which enables under 18 indoor sports games and competitions in sports such as basketball to go ahead. On foot of this, updated guidance has been provided by Sport Ireland to sporting organisations to allow children under 18 years of age to participate in indoor games and competition activities according to the ordinary rules and limits of the sport concerned.  The full guidance can be accessed on the Sport Ireland website at:

www.sportireland.ie/covid19/return-to-sport-and-physical-activity

Indoor group activities include arts, culture and dance classes. All indoor group activities should ensure that there are appropriate infection prevention and control measures in place to minimise the risk of virus transmission. The Arts Council has prepared guidance on the reopening of arts, culture and dance activities for children and young people which is available on their website

www.artscouncil.ie/uploadedFiles/wwwartscouncilie/Content/Contact_us/COVID-19/YPCE_COVID-19_AdditionalGuidance.pdf.  These should be read in conjunction with theGuidance for the Arts Sector.