Paul Murphy
Question:9. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach the status of plans for reopening after level 5 Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. [38834/20]
View answerCovid-19 Pandemic
Questions (9)
Written answers
Last Friday, the Government agreed the approach for easing restrictions, including a phased move to Level 3 nationally, with a number of exceptions in place for the Christmas period.
The exceptions for the Christmas period are designed to support people to have a meaningful Christmas, albeit different to other years. The main objective is to stay safe and keep the Covid numbers down so that we can maintain the lowest possible level of restrictions into the New Year.
People are advised to plan their activities in advance, to limit their contacts throughout this period and to keep celebrations small.
It is also advised that outdoors is safer than indoors and to ensure good ventilation if indoors with other people.
From 1st December:
- Households should not mix with any other households outside those within their bubble;
- People should stay within their county apart from work, education and other essential purposes;
- People should continue to work from home unless absolutely necessary to attend in person;
- No indoor gatherings should take place. Gatherings of up to 15 people may take place outdoors;
- Non-essential retail and personal services may reopen;
- Hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs are open with services limited to residents only;
- Museums, galleries, and libraries may reopen;
- Cinemas may reopen;
- Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools may reopen for individual training only. No exercise or dance classes are permitted;
- Non-contact training may take place outdoors in pods of 15;
- No matches/events may take place except professional and elite sports, approved inter-county Gaelic games, greyhound and horse-racing and approved equestrian events, all behind closed doors;
- Public transport capacity is limited to 50%;
- Places of worship to reopen for services with restrictive measures, subject to review in January;
- Weddings with up to 25 guests are permitted (same as current provisions);
- Funerals with up to 25 mourners are permitted (same as current provisions);
- Higher, further and adult education should remain primarily online.
From 4th December:
- Restaurants and pubs operating as restaurants (serving a €9 substantial meal) may reopen for indoor dining with additional restrictions, (including requirement for meals to be prepared on site, inside the premises). This includes access for non-residents to restaurants in hotels. Wet pubs to remain closed except for takeaway/delivery.
In recognition of the importance of the holiday season, particularly in relation to visiting family, from 18th December to 6th January:
- Households can mix with up to two other households; and
- Travel outside your county to be permitted.
From the 7th of January, the measures put in place prior to the 18th of December will apply, subject to ongoing review of the trajectory of the virus.
The measures for cross-border travel will be the same as for travel between all other counties, i.e. from 1st December, people should stay within their county apart from work, education and other essential purposes while from 18th December to 6th January, travel outside the county is permitted.
It has further been agreed that the use of facemasks is now recommended in crowded workplaces, places of worship and in busy or crowded outdoor spaces where there is significant congregation.
Questions No. 10 resubmitted.
Cabinet Committees
Questions (11)
Mick Barry
Question:11. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee dealing with foreign affairs will next meet. [38329/20]
View answerWritten answers
Matters relating to international policy and foreign affairs are discussed by the Cabinet as and when appropriate, mostly on foot of Memoranda to Government brought by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I also engage bilaterally with the Minister on such matters, as appropriate.
International matters also arise in the context of the context of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and other external policies of the European Union. When appropriate these can be included on the agenda of meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Europe. That committee last met on 8 October and is scheduled to meet next on 8 December.
Global Footprint Initiative
Questions (12)
Seán Canney
Question:12. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Taoiseach the status in relation to the Global Ireland Strategy; and when the next progress report is due. [38206/20]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to seeking to continue to implement Global Ireland 2025, and its ambition to double our global footprint in the period to 2025, having regard to available resources.
Despite the pandemic, which has placed severe constraints on travel and other international engagement, considerable progress on implementation by Departments and relevant Government agencies, has continued throughout 2020.
A report on this progress, and identifying priorities for 2021 and beyond, will be prepared and brought to Government early in the New Year.
Questions Nos. 13 to 24, inclusive, submitted.
Questions Nos. 25 to 34, inclusive, answered orally.
Traveller Education
Questions (35)
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Question:35. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education the steps being taken to ensure the delivery of the Traveller education strategy. [35132/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to “continue with, and expand, the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education and develop a National Traveller Education Strategy, including a plan to improve access to Higher Education for members of the Traveller Community”. I recently met with my colleague Minister Harris and we have a joint objective to improve educational outcomes for travellers.
The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) which is under the remit of Minister O’Gorman’s Department provides the framework and strategic direction for interventions across Government Departments to support the additional needs of the Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland. The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to review the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 and ensure that the successor strategy has a stronger outcomes focused approach. Officials from my Department participate in the NTRIS Steering Group and the Education sub-group which oversees the implementation of education actions of NTRIS.
I am committed to ensuring that actions to improve education outcomes will be advanced in line with the Programme for Government commitments and within the overall context of NTRIS. Initiatives already underway include work by the NCCA following on from their audit of traveller culture and history in the curriculum.
The NCCA work has commenced with the appointment of a full-time NCCA Education Officer in September, 2020. This appointment will allow the NCCA to focus on:
- identifying existing initiatives and supports across the three education sectors (early childhood, primary and post-primary) and exploring how they can be further enhanced, supported and possibly replicated;
- identifying existing resources and materials and exploring the kinds of new support material and resources that need developing;
- working directly with early childhood settings and schools to identify good practice underpinned by principles of inclusion, intercultural education, and learning about Traveller history and culture.
The Department is also focusing on research on the effectiveness of the Department’s anti-bullying strategy for Traveller pupils, and a NTRIS pilot project involving additional educational welfare officers, HSCL and Traveller and Roma education workers. It is intended that the outcomes of this pilot project will help to inform future policy.
Questions Nos. 36 to 38, inclusive, answered orally.