Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses. It is important that we give our full support to all the sporting organisations across the country because we have so many volunteers, players and spectators who have been greatly affected by this. All of us see the value of the work done through all our sporting organisations and we have to applaud them and say “Well done” because these have been very challenging times.

My first question is to the Department. Before Covid-19, many clubs and sporting organisations around the country were struggling. How can we ensure adequate funding and sustainable multi-annual funding arrangements for the sector at this time of uncertainty? We will be providing additional Covid-19 support, for example, building on the stability fund for charities so that smaller clubs can deal with the projected €445 million collapse of fundraising income which will not be made good by the wage subsidy scheme or its successors. Will the Department comment?