Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Addressing female participation at all levels in sport is an important element of the National Sports Policy and a core priority for myself and Minister Catherine Martin. That includes women in leadership positions such as board members of National Governing Bodies (NGBs).

The Sports Action Plan set a target for all NGBs to achieve 40% gender representation on their boards by the end of 2023. It is a priority to enable women to take more leadership positions in sport and the 40% target reflects this prioritisation. The average percentage of women on boards of NGBs has increased from 24%, in 2019, to 43%. In relation to the overall percentage of women on boards in the Irish sports sector, this now stands at 44%.

Those NGBs who have not obtained the target of 40% females on their boards will only be permitted to draw down 50% of their funding allocation from Sport Ireland this year, until such time as they reach the 40% target. Sport Ireland will continue to provide support to NGBs towards achieving the target of 40% and will continue to monitor and report on progress.