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

There is no doubt that we are prioritising the funding of sports facilities through the LSSIF, through the sports capital and equipment programme and through our general funding to Sport Ireland as well. We aim to ensure that a wide range of sports are provided for across the entire country. That has been evident from the work we have done to date.

We want to promote our elites to ensure that they can participate, compete and achieve at the highest possible levels, but we also need to ensure that our participation rates increase, from 43%. They are on the way up but we need to increase them to 60%. That will require investment, funding and support to organisations and sporting bodies and to the people all across the country. That includes people who are sporty. It includes marginalised groups. It includes minority groups. Women in Sport has been a focus. It also includes young people in sports. Connecting in with the education system as well has been important to achieve those targets.

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