Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 December 2015
4. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to address concerns that there is systematic inequality in Government funding for female sports participation programmes; and what policies he is implementing to increase female youth participation in sport. [45447/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister of State will be aware of the systemic inequality in Government funding for female sports participation. Will he outline what policy measures the Department is taking to increase female youth participation in sport?
The Government provides funding for sport through Sport Ireland across its various programmes. The core grant programme for national governing bodies, the high performance programme and the carding scheme for elite athletes are all gender neutral, applying to both men and women. The women in sport programme, which is an additional investment targeted at female participation in sport, was launched in 2005 to address the clear gender gap in sports participation. Since then, more than €16 million has been invested in the programme. This year, Sport Ireland is investing €970,000 in women in sport.
Figures from the Irish sports monitor reports show that this investment is delivering results and the programme has proved to be a success. The 2013 report shows that participation among females has increased from 39% in 2011 to almost 43% in 2013. This is equal to more than 750,000 women and girls participating in sport every week, the highest recorded participation rate for women since the Irish sports monitor was introduced in 2007. The result has been a significant narrowing of the gender gap in participation.
While these figures are very encouraging, I recognise that there are particular challenges around young girls staying involved in sport. Sport Ireland, the national governing bodies and the local sports partnerships continue to develop and operate targeted programmes aimed at increasing participation by young girls.
One of my key goals for sport is to encourage more women and girls to become involved in sport and physical activity. I am hopeful that, through these targeted programmes, we will see a further narrowing of the gender gap in sport and more participation by young girls. In this regard, the Minister and I met representatives of the Women's Gaelic Players Association yesterday to discuss issues relating to their sport.
Ireland is rated the third worst European Union member state for primary level physical education and the seventh worst at second level. Women show much lower activity levels and participation rates in sport than young men, with only 39% of the 16 to 25 female age cohort playing a sport compared to 63% of males in the same age group. We learned recently that significantly fewer women than men receive sports scholarships in third level institutions. This should serve as a reminder of the gap that exists between the sexes. Barely one in five sports scholars is a woman. As such, significant work remains to be done. While I do not doubt the Minister of State's commitment, the issue is not always one of Government funding. A strategic approach is required to ensure funding is spent correctly and in a way that encourages initial and continued participation in sport by women and girls. The only way to achieve this is through leadership programmes and scholarships that help to increase participation.
I agree with the Deputy. The Department is working on a physical activity plan and I hope the targets it sets will be reached. Successful sportswomen, of whom there are many in this country, do not receive the same recognition as men. The time has come to promote women in sport more. In particular, the national governing bodies and sports organisations must recognise the achievements of women and offer them the same opportunities as men.
In 2014, the Irish Sports Council provided additional funding for women in sport, including €142,500 to the Football Association of Ireland specifically to develop the women's game; €112,500 to the Irish Rugby Football Union to support the women's game; €384,655 to the Ladies Gaelic Football Association; €378,510 to the Camogie Association; and €166,930 to the Ladies Golf Union of Ireland. The purpose of this funding was to increase women's involvement in sport. The Deputy is correct, however, that more needs to be done and I have focused on local sports partnerships for this reason. In many counties, these partnerships encourage women to participate in marathons. Through the sports capital fund, we are trying to fund football, soccer and rugby pitches and provide tracks to give women who are dropping their children to school an opportunity to participate in sport.
A big bang approach is needed. The Department must introduce a strategy that has been thought out. While I do not underestimate the Minister of State's commitment in this regard, particularly with regard to funding various groups, these efforts will only keep things ticking along. This approach must be overlaid with a new and appropriately funded strategy that encourages greater participation in sport across the disciplines. I hope the Minister of State will give some consideration to that proposal in the new year.
The Deputy is correct. This issue is not solely the responsibility of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The Departments of Education and Skills and Health also have a major part to play in this area. As part of the physical activity plan being developed by the Department, we have raised many of these issues with the Departments of Education and Skills and Health. The trouble with government sometimes is that every Department wants to have responsibility for sport but not all of them want to do anything about it. The Department is working with the Departments of Health and Education and Skills for the first time in many years to produce a plan.
I am pleased the Deputy has raised this issue because I agree with him that gender balance is necessary and women must be treated fairly in sport. We must encourage women to participate in sport in whatever way we can because too many girls stop engaging in sport, especially between the ages of 13 and 15 years. My Department and the Departments of Health and Education and Skills must target this issue. We are hoping to identify ways and means of dealing with the problem through the new plan. Women must be treated equally in sport.
