John Brady
Question:816. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when coaches can recommence soccer training for under-16s while adhering to social distancing measures. [7767/20]
View answerWednesday, 27 May 2020
Questions (816)
Written answers
The Government-approved Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, and its specific phasing, is based on public health advice. Compliance with the various requirements attaching to each phase of the Roadmap is essential to ensure continued progress against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Phase two of the Roadmap, which is scheduled to commence on 8 June subject to prevailing public health advice, permits people to engage in outdoor sporting and fitness activities, involving small group team sports training (but not matches) where social distancing can be maintained and where there is no contact.
With a view to ensuring effective compliance with the requirements of phase two, a number of issues remain to be considered and clarified such as the applicable definition for small group team training. I have established an Expert Group on Return to Sport, which will provide guidance on this and other issues to the sporting bodies on a phase by phase basis so that they can prepare for the phased return to sporting activity in line with the Government Roadmap. In this context it is necessary to emphasise the need for each sporting body to prepare a detailed protocol setting out the manner in which it proposes to achieve compliance with the restrictions applicable to each phase.