Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
631. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an indicative costing for her Department to offer a practical programme of first-aid and CPR life-saving skills to all amateur sports referees, across all sports, as specified, in 2024 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27538/23]
View answerAs neither my Department nor Sport Ireland maintain a central register of all amateur referees for all of the different sports, neither is in a position to provide costings of the type indicated by the Deputy. The appointment of referees is, in any event, entirely a matter for the different sports concerned, which are all independent, autonomous entities.
I would agree with the Deputy that there is an importance attached to the provision of practical first-aid and CPR life-saving skills in sport. The Deputy will be interested to note that the network of local sports partnerships throughout the country already delivers education and training opportunities across a broad range of areas to local sports clubs and community groups. This includes first aid workshops, which typically cover CPR and/ or defibrillator training as part of the content.
A number of national governing bodies of sport also have schemes in place to support their club networks in cardiac care, screening and defibrillator training. The GAA’s community heart programme, the FAI’s heart care programme and the IRFU’s safe rugby programme are excellent examples of proactive supports to assist clubs and members to participate safely in sport.
