Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 10: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport the number of sports inclusion disability officers employed in the local sports partnerships; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27246/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Irish Sports Council (ISC), which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body responsible for the promotion, development and coordination of sport. The ISC was established on a statutory basis on 1st July 1999, and the functions of the Council are outlined in Section 6 of the Irish Sports Council Act 1999. A network of 32 Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) have been set up throughout the country by the ISC to coordinate and promote sport at local level especially amongst specific target groups such as older people, girls and women, people with disabilities, unemployed people, and those who live in identified disadvantaged communities.

There are currently seventeen Sports Inclusion Development Officers (SIDOs) employed within the LSPs to engage with people with a disability and bring them into the community of sport. The ISC's decision to allocate continued funding for this programme in 2010 was based on the vital work that is being carried out by SIDOs throughout the country. Through the SIDO programme a wide range of sports clubs, leisure, education and community centres have developed inclusive policies and implemented guidelines with regard to inclusion and access for people with disabilities. Disability awareness programmes have been rolled out in co-operation with education providers. Increased awareness levels have translated into more inclusive promotion of sporting activities and the active participation of people with a disability in mainstream programmes.

LSPs delivered over 100 Disability Awareness and Inclusive Games Training courses in 2009. Over 2,500 participants took part making these courses the most popular training courses run by LSPs last year. A range of innovative approaches have been employed by the LSPs to increase the participation levels of people with a disability. Examples include tandem cycling, hill-walking, swimming and horse-riding. New targeted projects and access initiatives were established in 2009 and these will continue in 2010. I believe that the SIDOs sanctioned by the ISC to continue working in 2010 will assist in making a practical difference to the lives of very many people who have found barriers to their engagement in sport.