John O'Mahony (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and Minster of State for their presentations and compliment them for publishing a national sports policy. I am not sure when the last one was published but this new policy is much needed in order to plan a pathway forward for sport in Ireland. The targets set out in the policy document are ambitious. While the benefits of sport cannot be overstated in the context of elite sport's ability to lift the spirit of the nation, as we saw with the achievement of the women's hockey team earlier this year as well as the achievements of the rugby team over many years, increasing participation in sport generally is crucial. That aim must run parallel to the aim of supporting elite sport. While elite sport can lift a nation, increased participation can make us a healthier nation.

A report was launched recently on disability and access to transport which was aspirational in nature. In many respects, this national sports policy document is also aspirational and its success will depend on its implementation in the coming years. Reference was made to "targeted funding" for sports in which we have a better chance of success. Recent examples of success include in rowing, hockey and so on. Are we going to target sports in which we have a better chance of winning medals or are we going to invest more in high profile sports at which we have not been particularly successful? How will that targeting happen? Will it be up to the governing bodies to make the case for additional funding by arguing that they can win three or four Olympic medals? A few years ago, for example, following the success of our boxers at international level, considerable funding was provided for that sport. However, the performance of our boxers at the last Olympic Games was disappointing. Does funding disappear if the medals disappear? Sometimes sports need more help when they are not successful in order to get to medal-winning level. How will the targeted funding aspect work in terms of the connection between the Sports Council and the governing bodies?

Reference was also made to inequalities in sport and in that context, women in sport is a big issue at present. There has been a big effort on the part of governing bodies in recent times to promote women in sport and rightly so.

I am a member of a committee which is trying to produce leaders in ladies' Gaelic football. At the ladies' all-Ireland finals we see the two teams but most of the time the referees and managers are male. There is a big need to change that and fully achieve the potential for women in sport. Can the Minister expand on and explain the increase in funding this year from €1 million to €2 million for the annual women in sport programme?