Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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17. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of her recent meetings with sporting organisations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26514/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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On the 4th of September last, I convened a meeting with my colleagues Stephen Donnelly, T.D., Minister for Health, Jack Chambers, T.D., Government Chief Whip and Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht and Sport, as well as the Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ronan Glynn, the Chief Executive of Sport Ireland John Treacy and officials of my Department, with the chief executives of the sporting organisations referred to by the Deputy.

The meeting on the 4th of September was an opportunity to hear from these representatives of the sport sector the impact of the public health restrctions announced on 18 August. We also received an update from the sporting organisations on the continued impact of COVID-19 on their operations, as well as the financial impact of same. Recognising the important role sport plays for physical and mental health, Minister Donnelly and I expressed our appreciation for the work that sport has done throughout the pandemic. The acting CMO highlighted the particular success of summer sports camps which had a very positive impact on the wellbeing of children and teenagers.

The sporting representatives expressed their appreciation for the support of Government throughout the pandemic in terms of horizontal supports such as the TWSS and EWSS as well as targeted support approved by the previous Government last June. I understand that Sport Ireland are currently reviewing applications for the COVID-19 resilience funds and funding will be allocated and disbursed in late October. The sporting representatives advised that they foresee the financial challenges continuing into 2021 and asked that Government consider further support measures in the 2021 Budget. I have made representations to my colleague Minister McGrath in this respect and we will discuss the matter further in advance of Budget Day.

Mr Treacy and the other sporting representatives also highlighted a number of matters of concern for the sport sector as the winter approaches, recognising that the autumn sees the commencement of the competitive calendar across many sports, particularly indoor sports. The insights from the sporting representatives informed the preparation of the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 published on the 15th of September last.

I  also tabled for discussion the important issue of spectator attendance at sporting events. The sporting representatives outlined the work they have undertaken to date to facilitate a return of spectators while ensuring compliance with relevant public health guidance. We agreed that the Expert Group on Return to Sport would take this work forward in consultation with the relevant sporting bodies. Pursuant to this a working group has been established with representatives of my Department, Sport Ireland and the relevant sporting bodies to develop a proposal for spectator attendance at large national and international sporting events, for consideration by the Expert Group and by the public health authorities. This proposal will incorporate guidelines to be applied by all sporting bodies at large sports stadia. This work is already underway and it is expected that this proposal will be presented for consideration next month.