Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2010
55 Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport her views on the relatively low number of women participating in sport; her plans to increase this level of participation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20700/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, has a statutory role in the promotion, development and coordination of sport which includes responsibility for increasing participation in sport by all, including women and girls.
The ISC was established on a statutory basis on 1st July, 1999, and the functions of the Council are outlined in Section 6 of the Irish Sports Council Act 1999.
Section 6(1)(a) provides that one of the functions of the Council shall be "to encourage the promotion, development and coordination of competitive sport and the achievement of excellence in competitive sport."
Section 6.1(b) provides that the ISC has responsibility for developing "strategies for increasing participation in recreational sport and to coordinate their implementation by all bodies (including public authorities and publicly funded bodies) involved in promoting recreational sport and providing recreational facilities".
I am pleased to say that increasing participation in sport by women and girls is a fundamental element of the Council's work, the Women in Sport initiative being one of the ISC's primary programmes. In 2005, the Women in Sport initiative was established to address the clear gender gap in sports participation with only 34% of women participating regularly compared to 52% of men. €10 million was invested under this programme from 2005 to 2009 and a further €1.5 million will be invested in governing bodies and sports partnerships in 2010.
I am assured by the Council of the ISC's ongoing commitment in that regard and I can also assure the House of my own personal commitment to redress this imbalance.
