Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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59. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there is financial assistance available for a person (details supplied) to help with the costs of travel to a competition in Europe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36584/21]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. Sport Ireland does not provide direct funding for clubs or individuals but channels the funding through the relevant National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGB). There is no mechanism by which Sport Ireland can allocate funding outside of this process.

At present, there is no recognised NGB in Ireland specifically for mixed martial arts. The Irish Martial Arts Commission (IMAC) is the recognised NGB for martial arts. Sport Ireland has been engaging with the Irish Mixed Martial Arts Association (IMMAA) since 2016 around the development of a relationship between both parties and will continue to do so going forward. In April 2021, Sport Ireland undertook to recommence the work of a Mixed Martial Arts Working Group which was established as part of this process and which included decision makers from both IMMAA and IMAC along with an independent chair and an independent facilitator. All parties have agreed to take part in this process.