Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy O'Keeffe for raising this. We are all well aware of the important health and well-being benefits of participation in sport by children and adults. Government investment in participation initiatives is having an impact and we will continue to invest in programmes and initiatives to increase participation levels further.

The national physical activity plan, launched in early 2016, contains a series of actions designed to foster increased physical activity by children and young people, including primary school children. My colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, exercises lead responsibility for the majority of these actions. Significant progress has been made in relation to these actions, details of which are available in a progress report published on the Healthy Ireland website in December 2017. In respect of adult participation in sport, the 2017 Irish sports monitor report published by Sport Ireland last month shows that 43% of the adult population regularly take part in sport, representing 1.6 million regular participants.

Government investment in participation in sport is channelled through Sport Ireland, which invests in a wide range of programmes aimed at increasing participation in sport, including programmes aimed at groups currently underrepresented in sport. Sport Ireland is committed to providing enhanced sporting opportunities targeted at those less likely to participate through the local sports partnership network, national governing bodies and other partners. In the context of the new national sports policy, currently being finalised in my Department, there will be a strong focus on increasing participation levels in sport and physical activity at all ages and particularly for children and young people.

Achieving such increased participation levels is a significant challenge that will require the development of new projects and programmes in the future as well as continued implementation of existing successful initiatives. I consider that a fundamental requirement in this context is to maintain and strengthen links between the various Departments, agencies and sporting organisations. The means to address this requirement will be set out in the new sports policy. This will also refer to the need to invest further in sport. However, I can also point to many positive things happening on the ground, particularly in respect of our young people. The "daily mile", which was an outstanding success in Scotland, has been reported on here. Schools, Athletics Ireland, Sport Ireland and our Department are trying to see this rolled out in all schools throughout the country. It is very positive.

See this speech in context