Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As Deputy O'Keeffe knows, the Department of Education and Skills has carried out much work in respect of increasing the status of physical education in schools. I will address some of the other work going on that is worthy of a mention. The Government provides €10.8 million in core grant funding through the national governing bodies and Sport Ireland. Another €6 million goes to the local sports partnerships. Their key aim is to increase participation in sport at local level. That is sometimes overlooked but their work is very important. I refer in particular to areas underrepresented in sport. They do really good work.

The women in sport programme provides another €0.6 million to 26 national governing bodies. In addition, €7.54 million was allocated in 2017 to youth field sports by Sport Ireland. That money is again often overlooked but it is important funding as well. The sports monitor gave us some very interesting data recently but also something about to be published later this year will be very important in respect of young people and children in particular. I refer to the updated children's sport participation and physical activity, CSPPA, report. The last one was published 2010. That is something we will be watching keenly because it gives us a specific focus on children.

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