Dara Calleary
Ceist:535. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures that need to be in place for community centres to reopen after Covid-19 closure (details supplied). [13819/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 7 July 2020
Ceisteanna (535)
Freagraí scríofa
I am aware that community centres and voluntary organisations are currently making important preparations for reopening facilities across Ireland.
Public health guidance has been issued by Government, the HSE, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and others. This guidance should be carefully considered and should form the basis for any COVID-19 related plans.
Further guidance has been developed by my Department in conjunction with Pobal for the community and voluntary sector to help them with reopening, and this is available here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/fd1c9-guidance-for-reopening-community-sector/
If community centres run by volunteers have paid workers on their premises, they should follow the Return to Work Safely Protocol which is on the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/22829a-return-to-work-safely-protocol/ . The employer is responsible for putting in place control measures, in consultation with a worker representative.
In cases where all involved are unpaid volunteers, and therefore the Health and Safety Authority would not have a role, a responsible person within the organisation should put in place appropriate measures before reopening.
As each facility and activity is different, there is an emphasis on personal responsibility and the need for people and organisations to exercise judgement in their activities. My Department encourages community and voluntary groups, regardless of the activity that they are involved in, to consider how the published information applies to them, and to put in place the appropriate measures when reopening facilities.