Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 July 2021
106. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of indoor summer camps and indoor summer activities; if they can take place or not under Covid-19 regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39046/21]
View answer113. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she can provide exact clarity in relation to the running of summer camps for children, both indoors and outdoors and summer classes for children, both indoors and outdoors (details supplied); if they are allowed to be run; the State body providing advice on this for parents and guardians and those running the classes and camps; the State body that is assigned to monitor compliance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38356/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 113 together.
On 29 June, Government announced the next phase of reopening the economy and society in line with Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead, with an emphasis on lower risk activities given the risks posed by the Delta variant.
Details of current public health measures can be found online at gov.ie. Gov.ie provides the current position with respect to summer camps: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/7894b-post-cabinet-statement-resilience-and-recovery-the-path-ahead/#summer-camps. It provides that summer camps should adhere to public health measures on organised indoor and outdoor activities as appropriate, applying at the time. Currently outdoor camps can go ahead, but indoor camps are not permitted.
The public health measures decided upon by Government are also given effect in regulations made by the Minister for Health under Section 31A of the Health Act of 1937. The current regulations are Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions)(COVID-19)(No.2)(Amendment)(No.5) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 329 of 2021) which set limits on attendances at organised outdoor events and do not provide for any organised indoor events.
My colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has policy responsibility for children and youth, including with respect to play and recreation.
