Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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251. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to review the decision that led to an organisation's official recognition as a sporting body to be withdrawn (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60584/25]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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252. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will reinstate Sport Ireland funding to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60585/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 252 together.

Sport Ireland, which is funded by this Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including the recognition of sports and National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) in Ireland.

Sport Ireland runs a formal recognition process whereby NGBs can apply for recognition, and in turn receive funding and support. Decisions relating to recognition are entirely a matter for Sport Ireland and I have no role in the process. Sport Ireland has recognition criteria that establishes minimum requirements for all organisations wishing to apply for recognition. Details on these criteria are available to view on Sport Ireland's website.

As set out in its recognition criteria, Sport Ireland recognises one National Governing Body per sport. Snooker & Billiards Ireland (SBI) is the National Governing Body for Billiards and Snooker recognised as such by the International Billiards and Snooker Federation, the European Billiards and Snooker Association and Sport Ireland. The Republic of Ireland Ladies Snooker Association (RILSA) has previously received support via SBI to help promote and develop the women’s game using funding from the Sport Ireland Women in Sport programme. However, RILSA has never been recognised by Sport Ireland and Sport Ireland has no formal relationship with RILSA.

Additionally, all recognised NGBs are independent, autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own governance procedures and relationships with affiliates and related organisations.

Where a dispute arises in a sporting organisation and the matter cannot be resolved between the parties involved, I would encourage the parties involved to use the dispute resolution mechanisms that are in place for sport. Many NGBs have signed up to Sport Dispute Solutions Ireland (SDSI). SDSI is a not-for-profit dispute resolution service for Irish sport offering mediation and arbitration services. Further information is available on the website of the Federation of Irish Sport at www.irishsport.ie or on SDSI’s own website at www.sportdisputesolutions.ie.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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253. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to ensure equal female representation on Sport Ireland funded organisations. [60586/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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This Government is committed to a "Sport for All" approach aimed at ensuring that all persons can partake equally in sport and physical activity.

Addressing female participation at all levels in sport is an important element of the National Sports Policy and is a core priority for me. This commitment is reaffirmed in the Programme for Government and is also reflected in Sport Ireland's Women in Sport Policy.

A key area of focus in this regard is ensuring a gender balance in leadership positions on the boards 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 reflects this prioritisation. Any funded body that does not meet this target will only be able to draw down a maximum of 50% of its allocated Core Funding until the 40% requirement is fully met. Sport Ireland liaises with organisations regarding their board composition and provides support to NGBs towards achieving the target of 40% along with monitoring and reporting on progress.

Sport Ireland published its most recent snapshot of female representation on the boards of 100 sports organisations in December 2024, which is available on its website, www.sportireland.ie.

The percentage of women on boards across the sport sector in Ireland now stands at 48% overall. This is a three per cent increase on the previous snapshot.