Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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237. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has discussed increasing the level of participation of women in cycling; if he has raised the need for women to be represented on the board of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31897/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards. This includes the allocation of funding across its various programmes, including the Women in Sport programme. As sports participation is a matter for Sport Ireland, I have referred the first part of 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.

I would also like to inform the Deputy that I have recently written to all National Governing Bodies of Sport, including Cycling Ireland, on the issue of Leadership of Women in Sport. Addressing the participation of women at all levels in sport, including in positions of leadership, is an important element of the ongoing work on the new sports policy document, which I expect to finalise in the autumn.