Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Hoey for her very pertinent questions. Last year when we had young people training in pods of 15, one of the bits of feedback we received from the sports system was that they were training but were not able to compete. We have a draft paper on this based on the feedback from all the governing bodies. I would like to see competition follow the training in pods of 15.

The next phase after the pods for young people is obviously to allow adults and young adults in pods of 15 to get back training and participating, and then it is hoped, competition will follow. We have tried to put a structure around that with the governing bodies and get feedback. We will bring that to Government. When it is possible, I would like to see that happen soon. I share the Senator's point.

A clubs aid fund was part of the mix last year in terms of Covid-19 support. As part of the funding we gave to governing bodies, we also had a key stream of funding in the context of the resilience fund. That was drawn down through the governing bodies. I am hopeful this year that clubs and the whole grassroots system will play a key role. I share the Senator's point. The feedback I have received from many of the clubs I am involved with locally and from other clubs throughout the country is, as the Senator said, that debt is continuing and perhaps membership is falling. We recognise that and we will try to reflect it in the supports we deliver through the year.