Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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334. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has engaged with the IRFU on its work to encourage more female rugby players to turn professional. [54540/22]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, earlier this year, Minister Martin and I were clear in my support for women’s rugby through my engagement with the group of players who sought support in relation to issues they had with the IRFU and particularly the reviews that the IRFU were conducting into the women’s game.

Sport Ireland supported the players in their engagement with the IRFU and remained engaged with all parties up to the launch, in March 2022, of the independent review commissioned by the IRFU into the Women’s Rugby World Cup qualification campaign. This included meetings with all of the parties present and sessions with the players. Sport Ireland remains available to all parties should it be required.

I am pleased to note that the IRFU's new full-time high performance programme for women commenced last week. This is a very welcome and significant development for women's rugby in Ireland.

I acknowledge that this is the first step in the professionalisation of women’s rugby in Ireland and I am keen to see supports for players progress further in the years ahead.