Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2021
245. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the plans in place or proposed to encourage members and players to return to sports following full reopening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47925/21]
View answerEnsuring and assisting the overall resumption capacity of the sports system is a key priority for Government and is the main driver for the considerable financial assistance which the Government is providing to the sporting sector.
As I recently confirmed to the Sport Monitoring Group, a new funding package will shortly be announced to provide financial support to the sporting sector in addition to the €26.3 million additional current funding already provided to Sport Ireland to support the sport sector in 2021. Sport Ireland will shortly arrange for the invitation of applications from NGBs and sports clubs with the aim of distributing this funding. In addition to these financial supports, which benefit young and old alike, I consider that a public information campaign emphasising the benefits of sport can also contribute to a comprehensive resumption to sporting activity. Sport Ireland started such a campaign yesterday under the title of “Let’s Get Back”. The campaign will run for the next five weeks and is aimed at encouraging members of the public that are anxious or unsure about returning to sport and physical activity that it is possible to do so in a safe and secure manner. The campaign will also collaborate with social media influencers and platforms to promote the message to the younger demographic.
The campaign will form the opening part of a wider winter initiative to get people back to sport and increase participation, with activities planned throughout the sports sector up to March 2022. The campaign will provide National Governing Bodies with a perfect platform to launch their Autumn and Winter Programmes.
While the pace and extent of the return to sport for all people, is significantly dependent on the capacity of the various sporting organisations and clubs at local level, I hope that these measures will help support organisations and clubs in bringing as many people, including young people, back to sporting activity as quickly as possible.
