Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2021
623. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if special measures are in place during the lockdown for children with special needs to be allowed to go further than the 5 km travel restriction to access safe public spaces such as beaches or parks in cases in which there are no safe walking or exercising spaces within their 5 km radiuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2752/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, Ireland is currently at Level 5 of Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19.
At Level 5, people are asked to stay at home as much as possible unless they have a "reasonable excuse" for leaving.
The regulations providing for these measures are set out in S.I. No. 701 of 2020. Regulation 4. of SI 701 sets out a non-exhaustive list of reasonable excuses for leaving one’s home. This non-exhaustive list includes at 4. (2) (k) to attend to vital family matters, including the provision of care to a vulnerable person.
I am grateful to the Deputy for bringing this important matter to my attention.
