Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 December 2020
116. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by swimming pools that rely heavily on the offer of swimming classes due to Covid-19 restrictions; her plans to lift the restriction on swimming classes early in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43745/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the difficulties to which the Deputy refers.
I have recently written to all National Governing Bodies of Sport, including Swim Ireland, indicating the Government's concern to ensure that sport can continue to play the maximum possible role in sustaining people’s physical and mental wellbeing and consequently their general morale. In that context, the Government has asked my Department and Sport Ireland to engage urgently over the coming weeks with the sporting bodies to consider all available evidence and data for the purposes of informing the development of tailored proposals and approaches for future mitigation measures. It is envisaged that, depending on the prevalence of the virus, such proposals would enable the Government to review and potentially adapt the suite of public health measures currently applying to sport and exercise activities such as swimming.
I have asked the sporting bodies to make written submissions to Sport Ireland and I would anticipate in that context the receipt of a submission concerning the return of swimming classes. It is my intention that the outcome of the current consultation with the sporting bodies would be considered by Government early in the New Year.
