Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 September 2022
34. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way gender inequality on the boards of Ireland's major sporting bodies in receipt of Government funding will be addressed, both now and into the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47585/22]
View answerAddressing women’s participation at all levels in sport is an important element of the National Sports Policy. That includes women in leadership position such as board members of National Governing Bodies (NGBs). I want to acknowledge the significant efforts that sporting bodies are now making around gender diversity on their boards. It is evident, however, that more work needs to be done.
The Sports Action Plan sets a target for all NGBs to achieve 40% gender representation on their boards by the end of 2023. It is a particular priority for me to enable women to take more leadership positions in sport and the 40% target reflects this prioritisation. The most recent Board Composition Snapshot, which was published by Sport Ireland in December 2021, shows that the overall percentage of women on boards of NGBs has increased from 24% in 2019 to 32% in 2021. The Snapshot also highlights that 39 NGBs have now achieved representation of 30% or more women on their board, up from 19 NGBs in 2019.
Sport Ireland will continue to provide support to NGBs towards achieving the target of 40% and will monitor and report on progress.
Sport Ireland recently outlined their funding priorities for NGBs for 2023 onwards. From next year, Sport Ireland’s grant funding to sporting organisations will be more closely aligned with the Government’s key policies for sport with four funding priorities being prioritised within Sport Ireland’s grant funding criteria. One of the priority funding areas for 2023 is the achievement of 40% gender balance on Boards of NGBs. This will ensure that the State’s investment in sport is delivering on this key policy objective. Failure by sporting organisations to achieve 40% gender balance on their boards will impact on future funding.
