Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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118. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to report on the exact amount of public funding utilised by Sport Ireland to commission coverage of women’s sports by media companies and broadcasters. [22854/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including the allocation of funding under its various programmes. It also has responsibility for the development of strategies for increasing participation in sport, including participation by women and girls.

Sport Ireland does not directly commission media or broadcasting coverage of women’s sports. It does, however, collaborate with many stakeholders to deliver on actions in its Women in Sport Policy.

The Women in Sport (WIS) funding programme, which is administered 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. In 2024, Sport Ireland’s annual budget for its WIS programme was increased significantly to €4 million.

As outlined in the National Sports Policy, narrowing the gender participation gap is a priority for this Department. The Irish Sports Monitor Report for 2024, shows that female participation increased to its highest level to date (47%) but the difference in sports participation rates between men and women has remained at just under 3%. 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.

In addition to this, the Future of Media Commission recommended that a Strategic Plan for Sports Broadcasting and Promotion be developed and Coimisiún na Meán, in collaboration with Sport Ireland, is progressing this recommendation. The strategy is intended to look beyond the traditional broadcast of big events on TV, to the opportunity to showcase more sports, across multiple formats and media, and to promote coverage of sports that are in line with policies designed to encourage a more active population.

Whilst coverage decisions are ultimately matters for the media and broadcasting organisations concerned, I fully support greater visibility being given in all sections of the media to our many exceptional and talented female athletes. The more these athletes are seen, recognised and respected in the public arena, the more likely it is that young girls will be inspired to follow suit.