Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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772. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to implement a national concussion strategy; and if his attention has been drawn to publications (details supplied) that both state that such a strategy needs to be developed in view of the ever increasing number of concussion and concussive brain injuries which are associated with certain sports. [11416/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​I am aware of the recently published research on this matter and I fully recognise the seriousness of concussion and head injuries in sport and the importance of ensuring the safety of players. The Deputy should be aware that neither I nor Sport Ireland have a statutory role or remit with regard to monitoring or reviewing the safety standards in use by, or applicable to, National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs). It is the expectation, however, that NGBs would abide by existing legislation and have regard to guidance issued by relevant statutory agencies. The safety of all those involved in sport is of paramount importance, whether as participants, competitors, spectators, volunteers or workers. In that regard, the Deputy will be interested to note that various NGBs in Ireland such as the FAI, GAA and IRFU all have concussion and head injury guidelines in place for their sports, which stress the importance of ensuring the health and well-being of the players. I have asked Sport Ireland, the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport, to reply directly to the Deputy with further information on the concussion and head injury guidelines in place by the NGBs. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply is not received within ten days.