Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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60. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total funding allocated by her Department for sporting bodies and other bodies for the promotion of physical health and mental health in the area of fitness and well-being for people over 50 years for the years 2018 to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36511/22]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to sport, 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 people of all age groups.

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, including those over 50 years.

I have accordingly referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.

In relation to the health and well-being benefits of creativity and the arts, the all-of-government Creative Ireland Programme is a culture-based programme led by my Department to promote individual, community and national well-being. Its core proposition is that participation in arts, culture and heritage-based activities drives personal and collective creativity, with significant implications for individual and societal well-being and achievement. The funding allocations by my Department, through the Creative Ireland Programme, for the promotion of creative engagement in support of health and well-being specifically targeting older people is presented in the table below. The Deputy will note that this funding increased significantly from 2020 as a result of a new Creativity in Older Ageinitiative – part of our response to Covid-19 and the need to provide particular support to older people during this time. Amongst other things, for example, funding of €50,000 is being provided to both Dublin City Council and to Fingal County Council in 2022 to continue to provide Covid Care Concerts by professional musicians in residential nursing homes and healthcare settings in their areas.

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