Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2020
245. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the guidelines being made to allow the completion of the present underage elite football season; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43295/20]
View answerUnder the current level 3 restrictions it has been decided that the FAI Elite U19 and U17 Leagues for young women and men will be permitted to conclude their seasons. My Department has been assured by the FAI that the protocols and control measures applied for training and matches for these teams are equivalent to those applied for the senior teams. The protocols applied for elite training and competition are aligned with international best practice and have been developed in consultation with the Expert Group on the Return to Sport. My Department is also satisfied that robust compliance structures are in place to ensure adherence to these protocols.
It is regrettable that at this time, it is not possible to permit a broader return to competition, but the current Level 3 restrictions are clear that matches and competitive sporting events are not permitted except for professional and elite sportspeople. This is in recognition of the need to limit insofar as possible person-to-person contact to prevent transmission of COVID-19. My Department and Sport Ireland are engaging with the Football Association of Ireland and other sporting bodies to inform a review of the restrictive measures currently in place for sporting activity, which will be considered by Government early in the New Year.
