Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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631. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his view on camogie players being forced to wear skirts or skorts; if this is in line with Government policy on increasing female participation in sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23428/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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All National Governing Bodies of sport, including the Camogie Association and its affiliated members, are independent, autonomous bodies and are therefore responsible for the development of their own sports, including matters relating to playing attire.

However, given there is still a participation gap between female and male participation in sport, I would urge the Association to consider how a satisfactory and timely resolution can be found on this matter given its potential impact on participation. I note and welcome the decision by the Camogie Association to hold a special Congress on 22 May in order to re-examine issues with regard to the comfort and design of playing attire.

Increased female participation in sport is a key priority for my Department and a cornerstone of the National Sports Policy. The 2024 Irish Sports Monitor (ISM) review reported a continued rise in sports participation among women and participation rates among this population cohort are now at their highest level to date. The ISM recorded that 47% of women regularly participate in sport and that the participation gap between men and women is currently 3%.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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632. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide an update on improving the gender balance on the boards of sporting national governing bodies. [23429/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Addressing female participation at all levels in sport is an important element of the National Sports Policy and a core priority of mine. That includes women in leadership positions such as board members of National Governing Bodies (NGBs), Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) and other funded sporting bodies.

The most recent Sports Action Plan set a target for all NGBs to achieve and maintain 40% gender representation on their boards. It is a priority to enable women to take more leadership positions in sport and the 40% target is a reflects this prioritisation.

The most recent gender representation snapshot was published by Sport Ireland in December 2024 and is available on Sport Ireland's website . This snapshot shows that the overall percentage of women on boards across the sport sector in Ireland is now 48%. That is a 3% increase on the previous snapshot, published in April 2024, which had marked the first time the Gaelic Athletics Association, Football Association of Ireland, and Irish Rugby Football Union all surpassed 40% representation of females on their boards.

For the first time, all 29 LSPs have now achieved the target of 40% representation on their boards. Of the 71 funded NGBs, 65 are now at 40% or more, while all NGBs are actively in the process of recruitment to fulfil their gender balance commitment.

Those NGBs who have not yet 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 monitor and report on progress.