Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020
358. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if persons with special needs could be allowed access to outdoor sporting facilities; if tennis, handball, basketball and golf will be deemed an essential service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35230/20]
View answerGiven the current epidemiological situation with high incidence of disease, widespread community transmission, and considerable numbers of hospitalisations and deaths, it has been necessary to put in place very significant restrictions to arrest the current trajectory of the disease and break transmission chains. This means asking people to stay at home and eliminating as much activity and contacts as is possible to ensure that opportunities for the virus to transmit are minimised, while allowing essential activities to continue. Unfortunately, this means minimising discretionary activities including sporting activity.
While the Government fully understands the benefits that sport brings to peoples overall health and well-being, including older persons, and persons with disabilities and special needs, the measures in place to suppress the disease transmission are intended to minimise the risks to public health while striking the right balance in prioritising and protecting some activities over others. Such activities include health and social care services, education and other essential needs, work and economic activity, and other key societal interests (in so far as possible) such as sports and important family gatherings.
The categories of essential services which are permitted to continue in the current Level 5 public health restrictions are set out in the Health Act 1947 (Section 31a - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 8) Regulations 2020. In this regard, the delivery of essential education and social services for persons with special needs are matters for my colleagues the Minister for Education and Skills and the Minister for Health.
The Government recognises the impacts COVID-19 and the related public health measures are having on our mental health and well-being. The “Keep Well” campaign, launched on 29th October, is aimed at showing people of all ages and abilities how we can mind our own physical and mental health and wellbeing by adding healthy and helpful habits to our daily and weekly routines. It provides guidelines, information, and tips on things that will help us keep well through the coming months. All of this is available on gov.ie/healthyireland.
