James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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53. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the actions taken to date to support high-performance athletes during Covid-19 restrictions. [27521/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including high performance sport and its funding allocations.

Sport Ireland has provided an assurance that athletes on the 2020 International Carding Scheme will continue to receive funding as normal for both this year and into 2021. New entrants will be allowed into the Scheme. This funding certainty has been widely welcomed by our Olympic and Paralympic community.

Other important supports are also being provided, notably in relation to access to the world class facilities available at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown. Due to the work and support of Sport Ireland and the NGBs our high performance athletes have already been back training since the 8th of June.  High performance sport is proceeding on a gradual and modified basis in accordance with detailed protocols.  

International travel, which is an essential part of high performance programmes, is also being facilitated and supported. Athletes may be required to travel overseas to compete in Olympic/Paralympic qualification events and major championships. The Return to Sport Expert Group, chaired by my Department, has developed detailed guidance to assist high performance sport in its approach to international travel. This important support will assist athletes who need to travel, especially those who are still looking to qualify for the Olympics and Paralympics.

Sport has been a leader throughout this pandemic.  Our Olympic and Paralympic athletes have acted as great role models, showing people how to adapt, keep physically active and demonstrating compliance with the guidelines in media appearances.

I would like to take this opportunity to offer my best wishes to our Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls. I would also like to assure them that the strong sectoral engagement that has been pursued by Sport Ireland will continue to apply right up to, and beyond, next year's Games.