Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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52. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to target the over-65 age group to continue to enjoy and participate in sport in view of the fact that the Central Statistics Office projects that those aged 65 and over will account for approximately 17% of the population in 2026 compared to 13% in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37384/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Government's National Sports Policy 2018-2027 recognises that Ireland's older population is expected to increase significantly in the coming decades and the challenges and opportunities that such changes in demography present for participation in sport. 

The National Sports Policy has set a target to increase adult participation in sport from 43% in 2017 to 50% by 2027. The Programme for Government is setting an even more ambitious target of 60%

in recognition of the importance of physical activity to the population’s physical and mental well-being. The National Sports Policy includes 57 actions to be implemented over the lifetime of the Policy, including a number of actions aimed at addressing the challenges around participation, including participation by older people.

A Sports Action Plan which will prioritise the actions to be implemented up to 2023 is currently being finalised and I expect that it will be published early in the new year.

In the meantime, Sport Ireland, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including the development of strategies for increasing participation in sport, is continuing its work to increase participation in sport by older people.  

Sport Ireland provides funding to the National Governing Bodies of sport, the network of Local Sports Partnerships and other sporting organisations to deliver a wide variety of programmes and actions to encourage participation by people of all ages. 

I am arranging for Sport Ireland to provide the Deputy with a comprehensive outline of its strategies and activities aimed at increasing participation by those over 65 years of age.