Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
767. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will consult with NPHET with a view to bringing forward a proposal to the effect that a privately run maths grind class for 30 students can take place in a large community centre hall in which social distancing and other public health guidelines can be implemented including the wearing of face coverings and time limits on such classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25097/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware on Tuesday 15 September, 2020 the Government published it's medium term plan Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 which frames Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19 in a range of areas over the next 6 - 9 months.
The plan sets out five levels of response, each with a number of measures designed to help us all lower COVID-19 transmission, and setting out what is permitted at that moment in time. It aims to allow society and businesses to be able to operate as normally as possible, while continuing to suppress the virus. The plan is framed to account for periods which there is a low incidence of the disease, with isolated clusters and low community transmission, through to situations where there is a high or rapidly increasing incidence, widespread community transmission and the pandemic is escalating rapidly in Ireland and globally. It recognises the need for society and business to be allowed to continue as normally as possible and is designed so that either national or county level restrictions can be applied.
Each level outlines what is permitted for social or family gatherings, work and public transport, bars, hotels and restaurants, exercise activities and religious services. Any measure included at any level in this plan is underpinned by expert advice and recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
All counties except Dublin are currently at Level 2 of the Plan for living with COVID-19. Dublin is currently at Level 3 of the Plan for living with Covid-19 . The public health measures at both levels will remain in operation until 9 October 2020, at which point the situation will be reviewed by the government, based on the status of the virus and the pertinent public health advice.
The Deputy may wish to note that under Level 3 of the Plan, for Dublin city and county, no organised indoor gatherings are allowed. Further information on this measure is available at the following link- https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/cf1f3-special-measures-in-place-for-dublin/#organised-indoor-gatherings
