Willie O'Dea
Question:48. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps her Department is taking to ensure similar access to sporting facilities for men and women. [7031/24]
View answerThursday, 15 February 2024
Questions (48, 51)
Steven Matthews
Question:51. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the position regarding the criteria promoting equality in project applications to the large scale sport infrastructure fund and in particular the requirement for all successful applicants to publish their similar access policies, in respect of men and women having access to the facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6973/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 51 together.
Addressing female participation in sport and physical activity is an important element of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027. Since the introduction of the Women in Sport Programme in 2005, the participation gradient between females and males has reduced from 15.7% to 5% in 2022. Further narrowing and ultimate elimination of the gradient remains the policy objective.
The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998 bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising equal access to sport for all.
The scoring and assessment system for the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme is designed to favour projects that promote female participation in sport. SCEP funding will not be allocated unless the applicant confirms that it is in compliance with the provisions of the Equal Status Acts. In relation to applications for local projects which accommodate both men and women, applicants that do not provide access to their facilities, on similar terms, to men and women will not be eligible for funding. Applications for local projects that do not benefit both men and women will not be eligible for funding unless there are alternative similar facilities available locally.
In relation to applications for SCEP national/regional projects, applicants will be required to set out their facility access policy providing for similar access for men and women. However, as one of the stated objectives of the SCEP is to increase female participation, all applications (i.e. local and regional) for funding of women-only facilities will be deemed valid for consideration.
Finally, Minister Martin and I also recently announced that a new round of the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) will open for applications in 2024, with the dates, terms and conditions to be published on the Department’s website. For the first time, it will be a requirement for all successful applicants to publish their Similar Access Policy, in respect of men and women having access to the facilities on similar terms.