Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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420. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if proof of immunity will be required for persons that wish to access facilities that are shared between a swimming pool and a gym such as changing rooms given that a certificate is not needed to access a swimming pool in a gym or leisure centre or to go to a standalone swimming pool; the guidelines that are given to operators of such facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63366/21]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has decided, on public health grounds, that gyms and indoor leisure facilities are now required to ask for proof of immunity for those accessing their facilities. This requirement applies to persons that are accessing shared swimming pool facilities. Under the regulations in place, such a facility is not obliged to ask for, or check, the immunity status of children under the age of 18 who are accompanied by a vaccinated parent/guardian. It should be understood however that there is no legal prohibition on the owner/operator of such premises from asking for, or checking, the immunity status of people entering their own premises, as they see fit to do so.

I should also like to provide additional clarification on the exceptional and special provisions applying to swimming pools. These provisions recognise the particular contribution that swimming pools make to water safety and to people’s wellbeing generally, the individual nature of swimming activity and the structural, spatial characteristics of swimming pools. The Government has accordingly decided that the requirement for proof of immunity does not apply for access to them. This is a highly specific accommodation that the Government was keen to extend to swimming pool activity for the reasons just stated. Other non-swimming activities are not covered, even if they are conducted on the same premises or involve the sharing of reception or changing facilities.

It is accepted that these differentiated arrangements pose additional challenges in certain instances but the responsibility rests with the owner/operator of such premises to make the necessary operational and logistical arrangements to give practical effect to the differing legal obligations to the different settings. However, it must be recognised that COVID-19 spreads when individuals and groups come into close contact with one another, enabling the virus to move from one person to another. The risk of infection spread is considerably greater in certain environments than others e.g. uncontrolled environments, crowded and noisy places, indoor environments, and poorly ventilated spaces.

Changing rooms for swimming pools may remain open for mixed immunity groups but subject to appropriate risk mitigation measures. Advice on the safe use of changing rooms, and the kinds of mitigation measures that can be employed is to be found in a guidance note that is available on the website of Sport Ireland at the link below:

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

I trust that the foregoing satisfactorily explains the position.