Addressing female participation in sport and physical activity is an important element of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 and is a core priority for myself, for Minister Martin and for the Government. The provision of good player welfare is a key element in any sport and is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the relevant National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs).
Sport Ireland allocates funding to NGBs through its various programmes, including the Core Funding programme, Field Sport funding programme and Women in Sport funding programmes.
The issues outlined by the Deputy are operational matters for the relevant NGBs.
With regard to inter county gaelic games, since 2021 additional funding has been provided through Sport Ireland for enhanced support of female inter-county gaelic games players on an equivalent basis to that being provided for their male counterparts, further demonstrating the Government’s commitment to equality in sport. Under this scheme, Sport Ireland distributes €5.6 million per annum in respect of Government Support for Inter County Gaelic Games in addition to the annual investment in Games Development.
A Steering Group, comprising the GAA, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, the Camogie Association, Sport Ireland and the Gaelic Players Association, is in place in relation to the allocation of the funding.
In relation to pitch availability, I have introduced new similar access requirements under the Sports Capital Equipment Programme and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund. Under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme 2023, applicants that do not provide access to its facilities, on similar terms to men and women, will not be eligible for capital funding.
In relation to the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, I introduced a new requirement for all successful applicants to publish their Similar Access Policies, in respect of men and women having access to the facilities on similar terms, in order to be eligible for “top-up” allocations.
