Louise O'Reilly
Question:545. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he plans to allow swimming classes to operate within level 3 restrictions. [44271/20]
View answerThursday, 17 December 2020
Questions (545)
Written answers
The Government appreciates that there are many aspects of normal life that have been altered by the emergence of COVID-19, and the response that has been required. It also recognises that these changes are difficult for many people. However, it is the case at present that many of the things which we have previously taken for granted are no longer accessible in the same way due to the risks that they pose and the ease with which this virus spreads in particular conditions.
The Government’s medium-term Strategy Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, sets out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19, in a range of areas, over a period of 6 – 9 months.
The Plan aims to allow society and businesses to operate as normally as possible, while protecting our key priorities of supporting and maintaining health and social care services, keeping education and childcare services open and protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities.
The Plan consists of 5 levels. Each level sets out what is permitted for social or family gatherings, work and public transport, bars, hotels and restaurants, exercise activities and religious services, at that moment in time. Each level contains a “basket” of measures which are intended, collectively, to contribute to lowering the risk of transmission of Covid-19 in alignment with the risk level at that time. The set of measures, individually, do not comprise a list of activities or places which are equally safe. Instead, they are “baskets” of measures which are informed by public health understanding of the disease.
The measures in place for each level reflect the prevailing disease situation and recognise that we can and must prioritise some activities over others.
The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has recently issued guidance to the sports and leisure sector. Swimming pools are permitted to open, for individual use only, with protective measures in place. This guidance is available at:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/35bb8-covid-19-sectoral-guidance/.
Question No. 546 answered with Question No. 521.