James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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238. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the Sport Ireland winter initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10430/22]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Winter Initiative is a rolling programme of activities and initiatives that aims to get people back to sport and increase participation. The programme has run successfully over the past few months, with a wide range of activities taking place throughout the sports sector. It has provided National Governing Bodies of Sport with a strong platform to launch their Autumn and Winter Programmes and will continue up to the end of March.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that at the last count there were over 700 events occurring under the Winter Initiative. 66 National Governing Bodies of Sport are participating, as are all 29 Local Sports Partnerships. Details on the events that are taking place can be found on the website of Sport Ireland, and through the respective organisations running the events.

It is my intention that a similar programme will be run next Winter and my Department and Sport Ireland will commence planning in that regard in the coming months.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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239. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the national swimming strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10431/22]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Initial preparatory planning work has been undertaken by my Department in regard to a national swimming strategy. It is intended to establish a working group in the near future to take forward the detailed work of preparing a national strategy, with a view to its completion and publication this year.