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Sports Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2020

Thursday, 1 October 2020

Ceisteanna (10, 18)

Pa Daly

Ceist:

10. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the supports being offered to sports organisations to ensure compliance with Covid-19 guidelines for sports spectators. [26515/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

18. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the funding in place to support sporting organisations in implementing Covid-19 safety regulations. [17381/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí ó Béal (8 píosaí cainte)

Cúpla seachtain ó shin, bhí na finnéithe ó na heagraíochtaí spórt sa Choiste Speisialta um Fhreagra ar Covid-19 ag caint mar gheall ar bhéim na paindéime. Go mór mór, bhí siad ag gearán mar gheall ar an easpa lucht féachana ag na cluichí agus an easpa ioncaim dá bharr. What supports have been or are being put in place given the serious lack of spectators at games? Can anything be done to bring about an improvement?

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 18 together. I am acutely aware of the difficulties and challenges faced by sports organisations, particularly regarding the rules on spectators. Measures introduced by the Government to date that have benefited the sports sector include the temporary wage subsidy scheme.

There has been extensive engagement with the sports sector over recent months, and this has highlighted the significant adverse impact of Covid-19 at all levels of the Irish sporting landscape. A Covid-19 sports management group, chaired at ministerial level, has been established to engage directly with the sports bodies. An expert group on the return to sport, chaired by an official in my Department, has been established to provide advice and guidance to sports bodies. Sport Ireland is engaging directly with sports bodies on an ongoing basis.

A funding package of €70 million has been put in place to support the sector. The funding package, which will be administered by Sport Ireland, includes funding of up to €40 million for the three main fields sport organisations, namely, the FAI, GAA and IRFU; a resilience fund of up to €10 million to support the national governing bodies of sport; a sports club resilience fund of up to €15 million to support clubs; and a sports restart and renewal fund of up to €5 million. The funding will be invested by way of new grant schemes through Sport Ireland's recognised public partners, including the national governing bodies of sport, the local sports partnerships and other funded sports organisations.

The closing date for applications to Sport Ireland under the Covid-19 grant scheme was 14 September. I understand a large number of applications was received. Thirty-nine national governing bodies applied on their own behalf and on behalf of their member clubs. Sport Ireland is currently processing and validating their applications. There is significant interest in each of the four strands of funding. The process will be complete by the end of October. An announcement of all allocations will be made at that time.

In addition to this funding, I announced a special fund of €2.5 million for the July stimulus scheme to support swimming pools and their operation. This funding will also be administered by Sport Ireland. The Deputy will note the €15 million support for the GAA, the Camogie Association and ladies' football. That is in direct recognition of the shortfall that will arise from the reduced number of spectators at all the games.

We want to ensure our all-Ireland competitions across the three codes happen this year. The reduction in spectators in stadiums and at local clubs and pitches has a direct impact on sport, and that is why we are providing the stimulus funding and buffer for all the organisations this year and why we are engaging in the budgetary process for next year. While Covid stays with us, we want to ensure sport is supported by the Government in the context of participation and continuing competition. That is why we have provided such a wide range of supports. Sports have been referred to specifically in the context of the resilience roadmap and plan. In this regard, when the pandemic worsens or improves there will be certainty for clubs and sports organisations regarding how they can plan for their matches and the impact this will have on funding.

The impact of the pandemic on finances is quite pronounced. When representatives of the IRFU were before the Covid committee, they said 80% of their organisation's revenue is generated by the senior men's team. It is now down €30 million. The FAI, which is already in a difficult position, is down €14 million, and League of Ireland clubs fear for their future. Just today, it was reported that Leinster Rugby is €18 million down. It needs spectators and it needs to get them back safely. It needs funding for alterations. Even though these organisations are experts in managing large numbers, their staff and volunteers may need extra training. Fans are returning in some other countries, as the Minister of State probably knows.

It was interesting that the Minister of State mentioned the return to sport. The GAA told us 600,000 people returned to play Gaelic games and there was not a Covid case as a result. Thousands of children returned to Cúl Camps and there was not a case as a result.

The GAA and many sports organisations have done excellent work in ensuring compliance and participation in sport. As the Deputy knows, the resilience roadmap tries to ensure that people participate in sport and are physically active. We must also consider the mental well-being of all our population, including young people, and that is why sport is being properly and directly funded by the Government in the context of the stimulus package and funding I have mentioned.

I had a meeting with the IRFU this week and I acknowledged the funding difficulties it and many other sports organisations will have next year. That is why we have an expert group on sport and a sports leadership group working directly with the organisations. In light of the roadmap, the group has plans to map out the mitigation of risk while potentially ensuring the return of some spectators to the larger stadiums. That is referenced across the levels in the roadmap. We are trying to proceed in a safe way, and we have ongoing engagement with all the sports organisations to meet their challenges.

Given the return to sport and what the Minister of State said about the mental health of returning spectators and participants, and given what he said about being supported by the Government, what does he think about introducing the 1 m rule in stadiums? In Germany, for example, a capacity rate of 20% has already been introduced. There are no away fans and no alcohol and it depends on the seven-day infection rate in the relevant city. There were 10,000 at a game recently in Dresden and 20,000 at a game in Budapest.

There are some National League games coming up. Would the Government consider allowing the GAA to self-regulate, as it does in the Six Counties, and nominate a different number of spectators per ground to give it some flexibility? There could be oversight by a fire officer, for example, allowing for a higher percentage. Given what the Minister of State said about mental health and the importance of getting spectators back into stadiums, and acknowledging, as we must, the expert capacity of the GAA and other sports bodies to deal with large crowds, I ask the Minister of State to address this, particularly in respect of the GAA's upcoming National League games.

Spectator attendance at large purpose-built event facilities is being considered.

Specific guidance is being developed with the relevant organisations and sectors to take account of the size and differing conditions for events such as large national and international sporting events. I understand that the expert group on the return to sport is considering comprehensive proposals in that regard. As Ministers, we do not make the decision regarding the 1 m or 0.5 m rule, we have to take the advice from public health experts and experts around event management on how we mitigate risk across the events sector be that in sport or in other areas. What we want to do over the next six to nine months is, as referenced in the resilience roadmap, ensure the safe return of spectators, particularly to larger venues. There is flexibility within the resilience roadmap for the return of spectators to larger stadia. We have not set a number on those larger stadia. The expert group, with the sporting organisations, has the authority to develop specific spectator attendances.

When will the report be published?

It is being worked on. I understand that work is nearing conclusion. There is ongoing engagement with the sporting organisations around how we mitigate risk and ensure the safe return of spectators. I am confident that the group will allow for the return of spectators, particularly at larger sporting venues, while ensuring public health advice is maintained.

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