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Wednesday, 5 May 2021

Written Answers Nos. 476-495

Protected Disclosures

Questions (476, 480)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

476. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an unredacted copy of an independent external report regarding the penalisation of a person (details supplied) for making a protected disclosure in the Irish Prison Service. [22852/21]

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Patrick Costello

Question:

480. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice when an independent external report into the penalisation of a person (details supplied) for making a protected disclosure in the Irish Prison Service will be published. [23117/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 480 together.

As the Deputies are aware, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow employees to bring alleged wrongdoing to the attention of the appropriate authorities.

The Act also affords very important protections to persons making protected disclosures. I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate therefore that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on, nor confirm the existence of any specific protected disclosure. The protection of those wishing to make a protected disclosure rightly prioritises the confidentiality of the process, which is central to the efficacy of that process.

Citizenship Applications

Questions (477)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

477. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice if the citizenship applications of healthcare workers will be prioritised given their importance during the Covid-19 pandemic; the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22998/21]

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Written answers

An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 6 July 2018. Documentation was requested by my Department by letter dated 2 September 2019. This documentation remains outstanding and the application can only be progressed upon its receipt.

I recognise the crucial role healthcare workers are continuing to play in responding to the threat of COVID-19. They work in a challenging environment and deal with vulnerable people on a daily basis. Their exceptional commitment has been particularly clear throughout the pandemic, during which they have played a vital part in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with legislation. There are no provisions to apply different criteria depending on the category of employment of the applicant and statistics are not maintained by the Immigration Service of my Department to enable me to provide details of the profession of applicants. All applicants are required to meet minimum periods of reckonable residence and standard checks are carried out as part of the overall process to maintain its integrity.

A significant backlog has built up regarding the granting of citizenships due to the inability to hold in person ceremonies during COVID-19. On 18 January 2021, a temporary system that enables applicants to complete their naturalisation process by signing a statutory declaration of loyalty was opened and approximately 1,708 people have received their Irish citizenship since then. A further 1,057 people have returned their signed statutory declarations and the Immigration Service will be sending them their certificates of naturalisation in the coming weeks.

It has also been decided to extend the statutory declaration process to a further 2,500 people and by the end of June, it is expected that 6,500 people will have been given the opportunity to complete their Irish citizenship.

In-person citizenship ceremonies have been provisionally scheduled to resume in December 2021, subject to the safety of all involved being assured.

Plans for the digitalisation of the naturalisation process are well advanced, in line with the plan to significantly modernise the Justice Sector through increased digital and ICT investment. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up additional resources to focus on enhanced customer service delivery, ensuring the integrity of the process is protected and processing applications in a timely and efficient manner.

Road Traffic Offences

Questions (478)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

478. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of fines and-or sanctions issued by An Garda Síochána in respect of unauthorised vehicles using bus lanes during bus lane designated times. [23107/21]

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Written answers

I have requested a report on the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána. Unfortunately the report was not to hand in time. I will write to the Deputy on receipt of the report.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Question Number 478 which was for answer on 5 May 2021, where you requested the number of fines and or sanctions issued by An Garda Síochána in respect of unauthorised vehicles using bus lanes during bus lane designated times.
You will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and to contact you again when the information was available.
As you will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. I have no direct role in these matters.
A number of offences exist under section 35 of the Road Traffic Act for unauthorised use of bus lanes, ‘contra flow’ bus lanes and bus-only streets. These offences are dealt with primarily by way of Fixed Charge Notice. In the table below, the Garda authorities have provided the annual breakdown of the number of instances in which a party was issued with a Fixed Charge Notice for breach of these offences.

2019

2020

2021*

FCNs Issued

6059

3132

464

*Figures for 2021 up to 30 April 2021
I am advised that these figures are based on incidents which occurred from 1 January 2019 to 30 April 2021, inclusive. I am further advised that these figures are based upon operational data from the Fixed Charge Processing System as was available on 7 May 2021, and is liable to change.
I trust this information is of assistance.

Leave to Remain

Questions (479)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

479. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the steps that can be taken by a person (details supplied) who appears to have been awarded stamp 4 but whose local immigration officer will not affirm the stamp and who requires the same for employment purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23114/21]

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Written answers

My Department registers persons residing in the Dublin area only. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) processes all applications outside of Dublin through the Garda Station network.

I am informed that the registration of the person concerned was refused by GNIB due to an outstanding matter. Once the matter has been resolved, the person concerned should coordinate with their local immigration office to register their permission.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie) which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from my Department is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Question No. 480 answered with Question No. 476.

Prison Visiting Committees

Questions (481)

Patrick Costello

Question:

481. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the progress made on the programme for Government commitment to review the existing functions, powers, appointment procedures and reporting processes for prison visiting committees. [23158/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy notes, the Programme for Government commits to reviewing the existing function, powers, appointment procedures and reporting processes for prison visiting committees. A Review Team has been established to take this commitment forward. Two meetings of the Review Team have taken place and a draft paper is in development.

Programme for Government

Questions (482)

Patrick Costello

Question:

482. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the progress made on the programme for Government commitment to establish a penal policy consultative council to advise on penal policy. [23159/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, the Justice Plan 2021 commits to a suite of actions to reduce re-offending rates for those convicted of crime, including the publication of a policy review on penal policy in the third quarter of this year.

This review will set out actions to be taken to reduce the rate of re-offending. As part of this, it is intended to establish a penal policy consultative council to advise on penal policy.

This will require a multi-agency and interdepartmental approach to deliver progressive, integrated policy interventions for prisons and penal reform over a three year plan.

At present this work is being aligned with other Criminal Justice Strategies and a workinggroup comprising of representatives from the Department of Justice, the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service has been established to drive forward this work.

Community Policing

Questions (483)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

483. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice if a community safety partnership (details supplied) will be retained following the establishment of the community safety innovation fund; and if the current arrangements will continue. [23219/21]

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Written answers

As you will be aware, Minister McEntee and Minister McGrath have agreed, in principle, to establish the new Community Safety Innovation Fund. The scheme, when established, will allocate funds to community safety projects and other policy initiatives in the area including the work of the new Local Community Safety Partnerships. The fund is not impacting on structures for community safety partnerships, it is intended to support such initiatives.

It will reflect the significant successes of An Garda Síochána and the Criminal Assets Bureau in disrupting criminal activity and seizing proceeds of crime, by providing additional funding for investment in community safety projects. The details of how the fund will be allocated will be finalised as part of the budgetary process.

Separately, as the Deputy will be aware, my Department has been developing a new community safety policy to reflect the findings and recommendations contained in the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. The Commission found that community safety requires a whole of Government approach in partnership with local communities. This new policy will be given a statutory basis in a new Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, the General Scheme of which was recently approved by Government. To support and inform the policy, three Local Community Safety Partnerships are being piloted in Dublin’s North Inner City, Waterford and Longford and will run for the next two years.

These Partnerships will operate at local authority administrative level and replace and build upon Joint Policing Committees. They will be made up of local representatives, local services, community representatives and residents. Local Community Safety Partnerships will take a strategic approach to their work so that issues arising can be dealt with in a coordinated manner, and addressed collectively by relevant service providers in partnership with the community.

It is not intended that the Local Community Safety Partnerships will impede the functioning of successful local safety initiatives. The intention is that where local safety fora are active, the Local Safety Partnerships will serve as a useful forum to which they can escalate any issues as appropriate, and gain access to a range of service providers.

The pilots will inform the development of the rollout of Local Community Safety Partnerships in every local authority area as part of the provisions of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill.

Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge

Questions (484, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

484. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Dlí agus Cirt cén fáth nach bhfuil na foirmeacha eadóirseachta (sonraí tugtha) ar fáil as Gaeilge ar líne agus cén dáta faoina mbeidh siad ar fáil ionas go mbeidh iarrthóir in ann eadóirseacht a lorg ar son duine óg trí Ghaeilge, agus an bhfuil sé i gceist aici a chinntiú go mbeidh gach foirm iarratais eadóirseachta ar fáil sa dá theanga oifigiúla ar líne go luath. [23221/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

485. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Dlí agus Cirt ar labhraíodh Gaeilge ón stáitse nó an raibh tagairt déanta don Ghaeilge, fiú i mBéarla, ag an ócáid bronnta saoránachta ar an 27 Aibreán 2021. [23225/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

486. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Dlí agus Cirt an ndearna an Stát freastal orthu siúd a bhí ag iarraidh mionn a thabhairt mar shaoránaigh trí Ghaeilge ag an ócáid bronnta saoránachta ar an 27 Aibreán 2021, agus an ndearna an Stát tairiscint ghníomhach do shaoránaigh mholta go bhféadfaidís an mionn a thabhairt trí Ghaeilge. [23226/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

487. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Dlí agus Cirt ar léadh amach don slua an fógra dílseachta don náisiún agus don Stát go dátheangach, i nGaeilge ar dtús agus ansin i mBéarla, agus an raibh an fhoclaíocht i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla ar fáil do chách roimh an ócáid bronnta saoránachta ar an 27 Aibreán 2021. [23227/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

488. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Dlí agus Cirt ar tugadh aon aitheantas don ról atá ag an nGaeilge in oidhreacht, i bhféiniúlacht nó i saoránacht na hÉireann ag an ócáid bronnta saoránachta ar an 27 Aibreán 2021. [23228/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

489. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Dlí agus Cirt ar tugadh aon aitheantas do thraidisiúin iontacha an cheoil in Éirinn sa chur i láthair ceoil a bhí ar siúl ag an ócáid bronnta saoránachta ar an 27 Aibreán 2021 [23229/21]

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Written answers

Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 484 go 489 le chéile.

Cuireadh an leagan Gaeilge nua den Fhoirm Iarratais ar Eadóirseacht mar Shaoránach Éireannach ar fáil ar roinn na bhFoirmeacha Iarratais ar Eadóirseacht dár suíomh gréasáin ar an 23 Aibreán 2021, agus tá teacht air ag: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/citizenship/naturalisation-application-forms/ (ag Foirm 8).

Is doiciméad mós dlíthiúil atá san aistriúchán sin ar an bhfoirm 36-leathanach sin, ina bhfuil 3 dhearbhú reachtúla éagsúla, foralálacha a bhaineann le cosaint sonraí (i.e., an Rialachán Ginearálta maidir le Cosaint Sonraí) agus miontreoracha maidir leis an bhfoirm féin a chomhlánú. Is fasach tábhachtach atá ann d’aistriú na bhfoirmeacha iarratais uile ar shaoránacht Éireann, agus tá gealltanas tugtha ag mo Roinnse, i gcumarsáidí i scríbhinn le hOifig an Choimisinéara Teanga, leagan Gaeilge de gach foirm iarratais ar shaoránacht a chur ar fáil faoi dheireadh mhí Mheán Fómhair.

Tá obair ag dul ar aghaidh de réir an spriocdháta sin. Tá an leagan Gaeilge nua d’Fhoirm 8 curtha ar fáil agus tá Foirm 9 (Foirm Iarratais ar Dheimhniú Eadóirseachta thar ceann Linbh Mhionaoise) á haistriú faoi láthair.

An tseachtain seo caite, bhí mé féin agus an tAire Nic an tSaoi i gceannas ar cheiliúradh fíorúil fíorspeisialta chun fáilte chroíúil a chur roimh os cionn 1,700 duine a fuair a saoránacht Éireann ó cuireadh tús le próiseas nua sealadach ar an 18 Eanáir. Ceiliúradh ar chultúr agus ar fhéiniúlacht na hÉireann, chomh maith le cultúr agus traidisiúin thíortha dúchais na saoránach is déanaí atá againn, a bhí san imeacht.

Tá sé tábhachtach a rá nár cuireadh aon saoránaigh nua faoi mhionn le linn na hócáide. Bhí gach duine a bhí i láthair ina lánsaoránaigh Éireannacha, tar éis dóibh a ndearbhú tairiseachta agus dílseachta don Stát a dhéanamh trí phróiseas an dearbhaithe reachtúil shínithe. Rinne an Breitheamh Uasal Brian Mac Mathúna focail an dearbhaithe a aithris leis na saoránaigh nua ag an ócáid díreach mar bheart siombalach saorálach.

Oifigeach as an Roinn a bhí ina óstach don ócáid. Chuir sé fáilte as Gaeilge roimh na saoránaigh nua, agus rinne sé roinnt tagairtí do chultúr agus ceol na hÉireann i gcaitheamh an tráthnóna. Rinne an Breitheamh Uasal Mac Mathúna agus mé féin araon comhghairdeas as Gaeilge leis na daoine a bhí i láthair agus, le linn dó fáilte a chur roimh na saoránaigh nua, ghríosaigh an Breitheamh Uasal Mac Mathúna iad lenár litríocht a léamh, le héisteacht lenár gceol, agus lenár dtraidisiúin a ghlacadh chucu féin.

Cuireadh tús leis an ócáid le físeán gairid inar cuireadh áilleacht na hÉireann os comhair na ndaoine le tionlacan ceoil arna sholáthar ag Wilderness Ireland. Mar is gnách dár searmanais agus na daoine féin i láthair go pearsanta, rinne Banna Ceoil an Gharda Síochána ceol a sholáthar, chomh maith. Ar na hoirfidigh eile bhí an t-amhránaí aithnidiúil Camille O’Sullivan, ar saoránach Éireannach nua í, mar aon le Nava, grúpa de cheoltóirí Éireannacha agus Peirseacha, lena n-áirítear duine dár saoránaigh Éireannacha nua. Cuireann siad síos orthu féin mar ghrúpa de cheoltóirí óga a bhfuil iniúchadh á dhéanamh acu ar an gcaidreamh atá idir cultúir ársa cheoil na hÉireann agus na Peirse.

Rinneadh an t-imeacht a bheoshruthú ar chainéil meán sóisialta mo Roinne – YouTube, Facebook agus Twitter.

Tá searmanais saoránachta ina mbeidh na daoine féin i láthair go pearsanta sceidealaithe go sealadach le hatosú i mí na Nollag, 2021, ag brath ar shábháilteacht gach duine a bheidh páirteach a bheith deimhnithe.

Prison Staff

Questions (490)

Mark Ward

Question:

490. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 186 of 14 January 2021, the length of time the senior psychologist positions have been vacant in prisons (details supplied); the provisions in place in the meantime to continue services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23239/21]

View answer

Written answers

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that a review of the Psychology Service was undertaken in 2015 by Dr Frank Porporino, an international expert in prison mental health.

Since this review was commissioned, there has been a significant transformation in psychological services provided to people in custody which has included an increase in psychologist posts and a more balanced regional approach to the allocation of services. Progress continues to be made in relation to the recruitment of psychologists with the aim of achieving a ratio of 1 Psychologist to 150 people in custody.

At the current time there are no vacant Senior Psychologist posts in the Irish Prison Service. A recent recruitment campaign was successful in recruiting a Senior Psychologist for Limerick Prison. This is a new post. Until the post holder takes up this position, Limerick Prison Psychology Service continues to be overseen by the Senior Psychologist in Cork Prison, which has been the practice for many years.

The Senior Psychologist in Midlands Prison is currently on maternity leave and this post is being covered by the Principal Psychologist and Head of Psychological Services until a locum Psychologist is recruited. This position has been advertised.

Wheatfield and Arbour Hill Prisons are overseen by a Senior Psychologist at 0.6 and 0.4 whole time equivalent respectively. In relation to Staff Grade Psychologist posts, there are no vacancies in Cloverhill, Dochas, National Violence Reduction Unit in the Midlands and Arbour Hill Prisons. Each Prison has an assigned Staff Grade Psychologist on a full time basis.

Portlaoise Prison has had a vacant Staff Grade Psychologist post for two months and this post will be filled in the coming months following a recent recruitment campaign.

Finally, Limerick Prison has a full time locum Staff Grade Psychologist.

Departmental Legal Costs

Questions (491)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

491. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the amount in legal fees incurred by her Department in 2020 and in each of the years 2000 to 2020. [23569/21]

View answer

Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that the legal fees incurred by my Department from 2004 up to and including 2020 are outlined in tabular form as follows. The Deputy is advised that it is not possible to provide the figures incurred pre-2004, as the financial information system in place at that time no longer exists and the records are not readily accessible.

Year

Total Legal Costs (€)

2004*

3,967,084

2005

9,563,190

2006

9,199,436

2007

12,856,975

2008

15,967,516

2009

18,038,644

2010

14,447,558

2011

10,544,929

2012

7,587,158

2013

6,952,650

2014

7,729,558

2015

6,887,986

2016

6,827,692

2017

6,904,401

2018

8,279,935

2019

7,681,149

2020

13,689,007

Grand Total

167,124,867

* Please note that 2004 figures are partial figures as the new financial information system was implemented in June 2004.

Primary Medical Certificates

Questions (492)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

492. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address the issue of the backlog concerning the disabled drivers scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22608/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme is underpinned by statute and comes within the remit of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners. A requirement of the scheme involves Health Service Executive (HSE) Community Medical Doctors making a clinical determination as to whether an individual applicant meets the specified medical criteria for a Primary Medical Certificate.

Following a Supreme Court decision in June 2020, the assessment process for Primary Medical Certificates had to be suspended. While the approval of the Finance Act 2020 paved the way for assessments to recommence this year, the Community Medical Doctors have also played a key role in the National COVID-19 response, including the roll out of the vaccination programme.

I have been working with the HSE to ensure that the outstanding applications for Primary Medical Certificates are processed as a matter of urgency. HSE data indicates that 401 assessments were carried out between January and March 2021.

The HSE is continuing to monitor progress on these assessments in the context of the HSE Service Recovery and Restoration Plan. I intend to keep the matter under review, to ensure that we continue to work our way through outstanding applications.

As the issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (493, 494, 531, 532, 545, 563, 567)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

493. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he has considered allowing the restrictions on numbers attending weddings depending on the size of individual venues to be informed by a risk assessment for venues as restrictions begin to ease given the role of Fáilte Ireland in issuing guidance on weddings; and the advice for couples planning a wedding in summer 2021. [22712/21]

View answer

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

494. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when clarity will be provided to the wedding industry on reopening and the number of persons allowed to attend weddings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22821/21]

View answer

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

531. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he has considered allowing the restrictions on numbers attending weddings depending on the size of individual venues to be informed by a risk assessment for venues as restrictions begin to ease; and the advice for couples planning a wedding in summer 2021. [22710/21]

View answer

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

532. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he has considered allowing the restrictions on numbers attending weddings depending on the size of individual venues to be informed by a public health risk assessment for venues as restrictions begin to ease; and the advice for couples planning a wedding in summer 2021. [22711/21]

View answer

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

545. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when clarity will be provided to the wedding industry on a return date and the numbers allowed to attend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22750/21]

View answer

Pa Daly

Question:

563. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the respective risk factors being considered when evaluating the allowed numbers at masses and weddings. [22817/21]

View answer

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

567. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the criteria that will need to be in place to allow weddings with more than six persons to proceed, that is, the R-nought number, case numbers, percentage of population vaccinated and so on; if guidance can be given regarding summer weddings; the Department that is responsible for the wedding industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22823/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 493, 494, 531, 532, 545, 563 and 567 together.

There has been considerable progress in reducing infection levels since the peak of the wave of infection in late 2020/early 2021 because of the widespread commitment and adherence by the public to the public health measures in place. While there is still a high level of infection nationally, the situation is considered reasonably stable and significant progress is being made in relation to the roll-out of our vaccination programme.

In recognition of the improving situation, the Government announced a roadmap on the 29 April for the gradual lifting of some restrictions over the next two months, with a particular focus on allowing more outdoor activities. A range of measures will be eased in May, with a further easing of measures in June subject to the epidemiological situation at the time.

The announcement made last week include the following changes to the measures applying to weddings: as of May 10, there can be an increase in the number of guests attending wedding services to 50 which brings this figure in line with the numbers permitted at religious services.

This increase to 50 guests relates to the service (both religious or civil) only. The number of guests attending a wedding celebration or reception should remain at 6 guests for indoor gatherings and 15 guests for outdoor gatherings. From 7 June, subject to the epidemiological situation at the time, it is envisaged that the numbers of guests attending a wedding celebration or reception will increase to 25. The Government has indicated that a further range of activities, including numbers attending indoor and outdoor events, will be considered at the end of June. Information in relation to the Government announcement is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/0bd80-new-public-health-measures-announced-the-path-ahead/

In line with the roadmap announced by the Government to gradually lift restrictions, Fáilte Ireland are in the process of updating their operational guidelines and these guidelines will be available online: https://covid19.failteireland.ie/operational-guidelines/

It is important to note that while there is now scope to ease a range of public health measures, this approach must continue to be cautious, gradual and on a phased basis, with sufficient time between any easing of measures to assess the impact. This will be critical to ensuring the protection of the gains of recent months, the protection of those most vulnerable, and the protection of health and social care, education, and childcare services.

Significant progress has been made on suppressing the virus over recent months due to the huge effort of people across the country. By working together, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland. We all must continue to do everything possible to continue to avoid the virus spreading and to support the safe reopening of activities over the coming months.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (495)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

495. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the consideration being given to the reopening of churches for public masses; and if church leaders will be consulted with on these plans. [22930/21]

View answer

Written answers

There has been considerable progress in reducing infection levels since the peak of the wave of infection in late 2020/early 2021 because of the widespread commitment and adherence by the public to the public health measures in place. While there is still a high level of infection nationally, the situation is considered reasonably stable and significant progress is being made in relation to the roll-out of our vaccination programme.

In recognition of the improving situation, the Government announced a roadmap on the 29 April for the gradual lifting of some restrictions over the next two months, with a particular focus on allowing more outdoor activities. A range of measures will be eased in May, with a further easing of measures in June subject to the epidemiological situation at the time.

The announcement made last week confirmed that from May 10 there can be a recommencement of in-person religious services. There has been significant engagement and solidarity from the Catholic Church and other Faiths at all stages throughout this pandemic to ensure the protection of individuals and communities from COVID-19. In February, the Taoiseach met with representatives of the Catholic Church to discuss the Covid-19 restrictions and the Church’s desire to return to worship. At that meeting the Taoiseach acknowledged the importance of the Church community in people’s lives at this time of stress and worry.

It is important to note that while there is now scope to ease a range of public health measures, this approach must continue to be cautious, gradual and on a phased basis, with sufficient time between any easing of measures to assess the impact. This will be critical to ensuring the protection of the gains of recent months, the protection of those most vulnerable, and the protection of health and social care, education, and childcare services.

Significant progress has been made on suppressing the virus over recent months due to the huge effort of people across the country. By working together, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland. We all must continue to do everything possible to continue to avoid the virus spreading and to support the safe reopening of activities over the coming months.

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