Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I agree with him about volunteer numbers and participation rates. We are concerned about volunteer participation. The Government cannot mandate people to volunteer or make a law to make people volunteer but we can create the environment to ensure volunteers and clubs are supported in the best possible way. That can happen through the sports capital programme and through the type of energy supports made available as a crisis alleviation measure late last year when energy prices spiked and we acknowledged the struggles clubs had.

It makes it very difficult for clubs and organisations to survive. We know this. We saw some of the funding Sport Ireland provided before Christmas. For example, the GAA received €11.73 million while organisations such as the Irish Amateur Boxing Association received €171,500 and Athletics Ireland received €180,000. We also want long-term energy efficiency measures.

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