Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2020
264. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will address a matter regarding caravan parks (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9781/20]
View answerUnder the reconfiguration of the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business announced on the 5th June, there are now just two remaining phases instead of three, with Phase 3 starting on the 29th of June, and Phase 4 on the 20th of July. Further work will be carried out in the coming days and weeks to determine which actions will take place in each phase. Updates to the roadmap can be found at www.gov.ie.
The Roadmap is a living document and Government has demonstrated great flexibility in its decision to accelerate the phases as set out in the original Roadmap.
The input and advice of National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) informed the Government’s decision to proceed with Phase 2 and to accelerate elements of the Roadmap. The Government also had regard to a paper which was developed by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an updated assessment of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify, from an economic perspective, some priority issues for re-opening of economic activity under Phase 2. This paper, “Economic Considerations for Reinstating Economic Activity - Update for Phase 2”, is available on my Department’s website at https://dbei.gov.ie/en/Publications/Publication-files/Economic-Considerations-for-Reinstating-Economic-Activity-Update-for-Phase-2.pdf.
On 8th June the Minister for Health, Simon Harris T.D., signed SI No.206 of 2020, Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions)(COVID-19)(No. 2) Regulations. These Regulations, which shall remain in operation until 29th June, provide for the unwinding of certain restrictions, including the reopening of retail outlets and extending the distance that may be travelled for specified purposes. The Regulations also provide for continued restrictions for some businesses or services and for offences, including in relation to events. Businesses should carefully review these Regulations. Schedule 2 of SI No.206 of 2020 sets out which businesses or services are not permitted to reopen at this time. Caravan parks are included in Schedule 2 other than insofar as they are providing:
(a) essential accommodation (including accommodation for homeless persons and persons in direct provision and persons who are unable to reside in their usual place of residence due to reasons related to the spread of Covid-19 or otherwise),
(b) accommodation for a person that is necessary for the purposes of his or her work or employment,
(c) accommodation for a person that is necessary to permit or enable him or her to attend a funeral,
(d) accommodation for a person that is necessary to permit or enable him or her to fulfil legal obligations,
(e) accommodation for a person that is necessary to permit or enable him or her to receive medical or dental treatment, or
(f) accommodation for a person that is necessary for vital family reasons.
As the Deputy will be aware, it is hoped that in three weeks’ time we will be able to move to a more advanced Phase 3, which would include the reopening of domestic tourism, and bring forward the opening of hotels, restaurants, bars that also operate as restaurants, hostels, caravan parks, galleries and museums to the 29th of June. On 9th June, Fáilte Ireland published guidelines for reopening for various sectors of the tourism industry, including caravan and camping parks; https://covid19.failteireland.ie/industry-updates/guidelines-for-re-opening-published/.
I recognise the impact that this pandemic is having on businesses right across the country. I know that employers and employees want to get back to work and I support them in that ambition, but it must be safe to do so. My Department contributed to the considerations around the phased re-opening of sectors under Phases 1 and 2 and I will work within Government to secure further details and clarity for businesses as we progress through the remaining phases in the Roadmap.
It is important to note that all decisions taken by Government on the timing of any lifting of restrictions as envisaged in the next two phases of the Roadmap will be informed by the public health advice at the time.
