Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 November 2021
155. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the current funding supports for LGBTQ+ persons in sporting programmes funded by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54713/21]
View answerSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards. This includes the allocation of funding to sporting organisations across a variety of funding schemes.
Sport Ireland is in the process of developing a Diversity and Inclusion policy to further broaden the scope of its remit in this area. Sport Ireland recently concluded a wide ranging research and consultation process with the sport sector, representative organisations and the general public, specifically encouraging the LGBTI+ community, people with a disability and those from minority ethnic communities, including the Travelling community, to share their views.
The aim of the research and consultation process was to identify the barriers and challenges to participation in sport and physical activity faced by certain communities, and to identify opportunities to remove or reduce those barriers. The insights gained will inform the identification and development of supports and initiatives to promote participation in sport and physical activity across under represented communities, including the LGBTI+ community.
The Local Sports Partnership Network (LSP) which is comprised of 29 LSPs around the country, plays a vital role in increasing participation levels in sport and physical activity, especially among those sectors of society that are currently underrepresented in sport. Working with trusted professionals and valued volunteers, the Network engages communities to deliver opportunities for participation in sport and physically activities that are progressive, innovative and fully inclusive at a local level.
In 2020, 340,000 people from communities across Ireland including LGBTI+ persons took part in sport and physical activity opportunities organised by Local Sports Partnerships. In recent years, the LSP Network has utilised funding from the Dormant Account Fund to support inclusive initiatives and programmes that focus on groups with lower levels of participation which includes members of the LGBTI+ community.
In June 2021, the Local Sports Partnerships and National Governing Bodies of Sport supported the inaugural #LetsGetVisible campaign, which was developed by Sporting Pride in association with Sport Ireland. The aim of the campaign was to recognise and promote the importance of visibility and representation amongst the LGBTI+ community.
The Sport Ireland participation unit is currently working with Sporting Pride to explore opportunities to grow and develop this campaign in 2022 utilising the forthcoming Sport Ireland Diversity and Inclusion Policy which will contain specific actions on promoting participation and inclusion of people from the LGBTI+ community, as recommended in Action 43 of the Sport Ireland Participation plan.
The Deputy might also be interested to note that I will soon be launching a Sports Action Plan covering the period to end 2023, which will include a series of actions and initiatives aimed at increasing participation levels across the board. The plan's emphasis will be geared towards increasing inclusion, diversity and equality in sport.
