Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
951. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if an organisation (details supplied) can continue to operate its physio-led rehabilitation services as part of the clients' primary care plan during level 5 restrictions. [1172/21]
View answerAs you are aware, Ireland is currently at Level 5 of the Government's medium-term Strategy Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19. This 5-level framework 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.
As you can appreciate, the current public health measures recognise the need to reduce congregation and interactions between people to reduce the transmission of Covid-19. The number of people allowed to gather in different scenarios in the plan is based on a review of international practice and the judgment of public health experts. It seeks to balance the risks of different types of gatherings against the desire to allow normal activities to proceed in so far as possible. The measures in place for each level reflect the prevailing disease situation and recognise that we can and must prioritise some activities over others.
At level 5, all non-essential retail, and all non-essential services must remain closed. Information on the current public health measures in relation to essential retail/essential services at level 5 is available at: - https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/
The list of essential services that can remain open during Level 5 includes therapy services provided by a member of a designated profession within the meaning of Section 3 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (No. 27 of 2005). There are seventeen professions designated under the 2005 Act, which are encompassed in the list of essential services. These are: Dietitians, Dispensing Opticians, Medical Scientists, Occupational Therapists, Optometrists, Physiotherapists (which includes Physical Therapists), Radiographers, Radiation Therapists, Social Workers, Speech and Language Therapists, Clinical Biochemists, Counsellors, Orthoptists, Podiatrists, Psychologists, Psychotherapists and Social Care Workers.
