Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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37. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for an update on the programme of work to be undertaken by his officials to implement the Programme for Government’s commitment to ‘develop a long-term strategy to close the gap on gender inequality when it comes to funding, representation, remuneration, media coverage, sponsorship and participation at grassroots and elite levels’; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5785/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Female participation in sport is an important element of both the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 and the recently published Sports Action Plan 2024 - 2027 and is a core priority for me and my Department.

This Government is committed to a "Sport for All" approach aimed at ensuring that all persons have the opportunity to partake equally in sport and physical activity, regardless of gender, age, social-economic status, disability, or membership of minority groups such as the LGBTI+ community, the Traveller community or other ethnic minorities. This commitment is reaffirmed in the Programme for Government and is also reflected in the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Policy.

The Women in Sport funding programme, which is adminstered by Sport Ireland, was first established in 2005 and since then over €30 million has been invested through the National Governing Bodies of Sport and the local Sports Partnerships. Since 2021, funding of €8.7 million was allocated to the Women in Sport (WIS) programme, and in 2024 alone the Sport Ireland’s budget for WIS was increased significantly to €4 million. This is vital funding to support sporting bodies, and my Department will continue to support all bodies putting programmes in place to increase women’s participation in all sports and to progress strategic objectives for women in sport across all areas including active participation, coaching, officiating and leadership.

As outlined in the National Sports Policy, narrowing the gender participation gap is a priority for this Department. In the most recent Irish Sports Monitor (ISM) Report for 2023, participation levels were at 47% which is the highest annual rate of participation recorded by the ISM. The report also noted that the gender gap in sports participation narrowed to 2.9%, dropping below 3% for the first time.

As Minister I am committed to continue tackling these issues and ensuring that women’s sport reaches parity with its male counterparts. I want to ensure that no girl or woman drops out of sport due to a lack of adequate training facilities or access to opportunities. My Department will continue to work with Sport Ireland to close the gender participation gap in sport and to enhance all aspects of female involvement and participation across the sport sector.