Written answers

Wednesday, 12 December 2018

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Sports Organisations

Photo of Ruth CoppingerRuth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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57. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding provided to initiatives to increase women’s participation in sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52195/18]

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, 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 and the funding of related programmes.

The Women in Sport programme was established in 2005 with the aim of increasing women's participation in sport, including non-participatory opportunities through volunteering and coaching. Since 2005, Sport Ireland has provided €19.5 million to National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) under the Women in Sport Programme to increase participation in sport among women and girls.

In 2018, in addition to its usual funding of NGBs, LSPs, and other programmes which benefit female and male athletes and participants, Sport Ireland will invest approximately €1million specifically to support Women in Sport initiatives. I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply on the initiatives funded. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.

Just over a decade ago, in 2007, there was a gap of almost 16% in active participation levels between genders. In the intervening decade, this gap has narrowed to just 4.5% in 2017 according to the most recent Irish Sports Monitor Annual Report. The Report also shows that 40.8% of women regularly participate in sport compared to 39.3% in 2015.

My Department's National Sports Policy 2018-2027, which was launched in July 2018, aims to increase the levels of participation in sport and physical activity across the population over the next ten years, with a specific focus on less active groups including women and girls.

When Minister Ross and I launched the National Sports Policy, we highlighted a number of priorities and indicated our intention to seek additional funding in 2019 to support certain measures, including doubling the funding provision for the Women in Sport Programme in 2019. I am pleased to say that an additional €1m has been provided for the Women in Sport programme in 2019, bringing the allocation for next year to €2 million.

While the gender gap in sports participation is narrower now than at any point over the past ten years, at just 4.5%, I am determined to eliminate that gap altogether. I am very pleased that the necessary funding is in place to begin that journey in 2019.

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