Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is only in recent years that I have seen the impact sports capital funding is having in every parish throughout the country. It has been a huge help and impetus, and great for building an architecture in rural parishes where it is having such a positive impact. The Department should keep doing what it is doing. It is great for many rural communities that do not have that many other facilities, and where their sporting facilities are their temples, to have that kind of money for car parks, dressing rooms and so on. The emphasis the Department has put on the criteria around women in sport and female participation in clubs and so on is slowly but surely making a difference. That is great.

Just this morning, St. Brigid's National School, Meath Hill, contacted me regarding what it is doing. The projects happening in schools to encourage activity are amazing. The school has a park-and- stride initiative - the Minister of State knows this school is in the heart of the country - that is about getting parents to park their cars almost a kilometre from the school, walk with their children to the school, bring their bikes and so on. It is great to see those kind of initiatives happening to try to nurture that.

Deputy Munster has joined us. I am sure she has some questions.