Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I agree with the Deputy's reading of the report. It is very important to get girls interested in sport at primary level. Obviously it is much harder to engage them at an older age, as it would be with anybody who does not have that ethos and is not used to such participation. Emphasis needs to be placed on that matter. I am working with the Department of Education and Science on the schools system in its broadest sense, particularly with primary schools, to instil that opportunity into girls at that age so that they can take it through into second level education. Many sports like basketball, volleyball and hockey are becoming more popular. It is easier for girls to participate in these sports and we need to ensure we have the resources in place to do that. It is not beyond us to go down this road in coming years and to have a successful outcome by targeting the resources in the correct way and get co-ordination between all the bodies with responsibility.

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