Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 December 2020
117. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 232 and 248 of 8 December 2020, if her Department will issue an official statement or circular clarifying the situation. [43755/20]
View answerOn 1 December, the country moved to a modified Level 3 of the Government's Plan for living with COVID-19. Under these restrictions, all dance and exercise classes remain suspended. There is, however, provision for individual and one-to-one instruction at this level. This guidance applies to sport, exercise and dance. While dance studios are therefore closed at Level 3, they can provide facilities for use in individual dance practice or dance training.
The Arts Council is in the process of preparing guidance on individual dance practice/training which will be available shortly. In the meantime, Sport Ireland guidance for individual training should be referred to in these cases which can be accessed at the following link:
https://www.sportireland.ie/covid19/individual-and-indoor-training.
While these measures mean that individual activities can take place, individual training and one-to-one instruction should not be viewed as a way on reintroducing organised dance classes which are specifically precluded under the current public health measures.
The Government is aware of the vital role that exercise and culture have played throughout the pandemic in contributing many benefits to the physical and mental wellbeing of people.
