Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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48. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if specific financial supports are available for small voluntary sports clubs that are being charged business rates by utility companies; if her attention has been drawn to the financial impact of the issue for voluntary sports clubs which must fundraise to cover the higher costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37337/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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On 2 November, I announced details of an €85 million funding package for the Irish sport sector, which has been significantly impacted by the various COVID-19 restrictions imposed since March 2020.

The funding, which is being allocated by Sport Ireland, will address the existential threat to National Governing Bodies and their club networks, allowing sports organisations to offset significant losses incurred in recent months and add a semblance of certainty to planning for 2021. The significant investment will reach all levels of the sport sector with National Governing Bodies, Local Sports Partnerships and thousands of grassroots clubs across Ireland set to benefit.

The funding package includes COVID-19 funding of €70 million, which will provide support for the three main field sports organisations (the FAI, GAA and IRFU), a Resilience Fund to support the National Governing Bodies of Sport, a Sports Club Resilience Fund to support clubs, and a Sports Restart and Renewal Fund.

The funding is being invested through grant schemes with Sport Ireland’s recognised funding partners, including the National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Sports Partnerships and other funded sporting organisations.  Sport Ireland will not provide funding directly to sports clubs, this funding will be accessed through programmes established by each of the National Governing Bodies in receipt of funding. It is expected that the National Governing Bodies will publish details of funding allocated to clubs under these programmes in due course.  

Under the Sports Restart and Renewal Fund, over €1.9 million was allocated to 1,637 clubs throughout the country as part of small grant schemes operated by Local Sports Partnerships.  These schemes provide an additional mechanism to support community groups and clubs who may not be affiliated to a national organisation or recognised National Governing Body but provide a vital local service.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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49. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to support young persons returning to sports in a post-Covid-19 society given the substantial drop-off of participation in children’s attendance after the first lockdown. [37324/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I agree that it is vitally important that efforts continue to be made to promote and encourage increased sport and physical activity by young people for a whole variety of reasons, in particular and physical and mental well-being benefits.

While the restrictions on sport have been difficult, there are some encouraging signs concerning participation levels among young people during the pandemic. The latest Ipsos MRBI research on the ‘Impact of Covid-19 Restrictions on Sport and Recreational Walking’, carried out in July on behalf of Sport Ireland, indicated that at the peak of the pandemic restrictions, 89% of 15-24 year olds were taking part in recreational walking, compared to 51% prior to restrictions. Furthermore, 82% of 15-24 year olds indicated that they participated in Sport in the previous 7 days compared to 71% prior to restrictions. 

In order to support sport through the pandemic, earlier this month, Minister Martin and I announced details of an unprecedented €85 million funding package for the Irish sport sector, which has been significantly impacted by the various Covid-19 restrictions imposed since March 2020. This significant investment will reach all levels of the sport sector with National Governing Bodies (NGB), Local Sports Partnerships (LSP) and thousands of grassroots clubs across Ireland set to benefit.  

In addition to this funding for NGBs, clubs and LSPs, Sport Ireland is pursuing a wide range of initiatives and programmes that are of particular interest and relevance to young people. Examples include youth leadership training and the development and dissemination of educational resource materials for parents to use to develop their skills in positively supporting children and young people’s participation in sport. There are also plans to promote more child centred clubs and also create a coaching module that is multi-sport, and is targeted at coaches of teenage girls teams/athletes that will address the dropout of teenage girls from sport/physical activity.

I will arrange for Sport Ireland to furnish a comprehensive report to the Deputy of its activities and plans in this area.  Please contact my private office if you do not receive this within ten working days.