Ms Mary O'Connor:

I thank the Deputy. With regard to the sports monitor, in terms of the participation rates and what is outlined in the national sports policy, obviously, all indicators are that active participation is on the rise. However, we are in the middle of a pandemic when people cannot go about their normal business, so people have readjusted and instead of having a work-life balance, they are having a life-work balance. What I would like to see is some type of campaign to stimulate that behaviour in a sustainable way beyond Covid. I am sure that when we get back into normal life, people will get caught up. We need to try to ensure that those who are active now and who were not active before can be enticed to stay active by either going to formal exercise and being a member of a club, or by being active on their own or in small groups, with supports from those like the local sports partnerships.

In terms of further investment, the federation is currently carrying out a Covid-19 impact survey with all of our members. When that survey has been collated, interpreted and shared with the committee, it will make for interesting reading. It is important to point out that we are four months into the year for our sports organisations and they have not been able to generate income in the way they normally would. We will be working with the Department officials around a second resilience fund. It will be needed but, as we all know, when we invest in sport and physical activity in this country, we do get a return on that investment, which will be very important going forward.