Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I referred to earlier, we are committed to ensuring that we have equality action plans across all the governing bodies. The review, which is being concluded, is examining many criteria around the previous plan. That will be updated in the next round but I take the Deputy's point on that.

The programme for Government states that we will prioritise sports capital investment in areas of historic low levels of participation and deprivation. Where there is a participation gap on a gender basis that is an important pillar for all of us who want to fund sport. We need to see any gap in participation addressed.

Preparations are well advanced for the next round of the programme, with testing of the IT system in the new Department under way. On the guide to making an application, the terms and conditions of the programme are being finalised and will be submitted shortly. We are hopeful that the applications will open in the coming period. There will be the usual deadline and engagement around workshops with different clubs across the country but we are anxious to support sport. There is an important stimulus element of this in terms of the capital injection we provide for communities. I hope that provides an update on it.

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