Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 20 April 2021

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht

Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion

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

I thank Deputy McGrath for his questions. Going back to a similar question from Senator Hoey about the impact of clubs, I fully recognise and acknowledge that. That is why last year there was more than €11 million - nearly €12 million, in fact - in respect of the sports club resilience fund. We are conscious about funding requirements this year and that we need to ensure many of our sport and grassroots systems survive, as Deputy McGrath said, so we will look to support our clubs as they get back and are able to open up. That is a key consideration in the discussions we are having with governing bodies.

Deputy McGrath mentioned golf and tennis, and I acknowledge his point. The phased return to sport is cautious and staggered, and next week the Government will assess the broader reopening of society again. Sport will be a key part of that, and I hope we will have a further reopening in those particular sports and others across the sport system. I might let the Minister, Deputy Martin, come in on dance specifically and the other questions.

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