Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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34. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the financial support her Department is committing to ensure a league (details supplied) will continue in 2021. [37374/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I know how valuable top level competition is and the central part that following your team plays in the lives of club supporters. We are fortunate that the league in question is dynamic and vibrant and I was very pleased with how the clubs adapted this year to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The operation of the league is a matter for the relevant National Governing Body. On 2 November I announced the allocation of Covid-19 grant funding to National Governing Bodies of sport, including an allocation of €13 million for the National Governing Body which operates the league mentioned by the Deputy.  

In recent contacts with the sport sector, it has been made clear that the financial and operational challenges associated with COVID-19 will continue into 2021. I am pleased to have secured an additional €26.25 million in the 2021 budget which will ensure that Sport Ireland can continue to support our valued sport sector next year. 

Decisions in relation to the allocation of funding for 2021 will be made by Sport Ireland in due course and will be announced in the new year.