Mr. John Treacy:

The core funding LSPs has been maintained and that is the funding we give them. It is approximately €6 million, although we will increase the budget for next year, as well as some of the programmes. Over the lockdown period, the LSPs have proven how much real value they provide to local communities and hubs. They are there to answer the phone and to help them through issues. The other aspect is that they have reached out to hard-to-reach groups to try to keep them involved in sport, and older people in particular.

As Mr. Mulvey noted, there was a presentation from our Sligo sports partnership at our board meeting yesterday. It was very elaborate in terms of all the different groups being reached. They have all done extensive work and it would be probably no harm for the committee at some point to hear at first hand about the work they are doing. I think they would like to outline that because their work is invaluable. I am sure all members, at local level, have seen what they do but it is important to state they have really tried to reach hard-to-reach groups. They also reach out to people with disabilities. All the LSPs in the country have disability officers who knock on people's doors and get them out and participating, and it is really important that that happens. It is about ensuring that no one is excluded from sport and that everyone is included.