Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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666. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the recent results of research suggesting that males in secondary schools are 42% fitter than females; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that it is suggested that females here are less likely than males to meet the minimum current physical activity recommendations for optimal health; and the initiatives and programmes his Department is developing to address this trend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5750/17]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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​Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes responsibility for the development of strategies for increasing participation in sport.

I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.

The topic of increasing the levels of female participation in sport will be a key priority that my Department will be dealing with in the context of drafting the new National Sports Policy Framework, due to be published this year.