Regarding the points raised by Deputies Aindrias Moynihan and Costello, the Her Moves programme is specifically designed to keep teenage girls in sport. That is only one of the programmes. It is based on research, the Adolescent Girls Get Active report, done only two years ago. It was important research done by Sport Ireland that informs us about what the Deputies spoke about. We have facts in this regard.
The gender gap between men and women in sport was 15.7% in 2005. That was the percentage difference between men and women taking part in sports in 2005. It is now 5%, so the gap has narrowed but it was only 3.4% before the Covid pandemic. There is, therefore, a gap between the numbers of men and women who take part in sport and that is why this funding is important.
To address Deputy Costello's specific point, the funding is for current spending, coaching and initiatives. The capital funding is entirely separate.
On Deputy Cathal Crowe's point, the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association, LGFA, and the Camogie Association would acknowledge what we have done on capital funding. Absolutely no funding is available if there is not parity of esteem between men and women and similar access. That is the end of that. Things like being told not to use pitches because it would destroy the grass for the men, which one ladies player told me about, are over. We will not be funding facilities where that is the case. This message has got out loud and clear.
On the GPA and the lack of parity of esteem, there is not as much I can do about that, except to make the important point that I strongly encourage the organisations concerned in their integration journey. That will answer all these questions. The Minister and I had a meeting this week with the presidents of all three associations, as well as Mary McAleese, who is driving this, and several staff members. This is an important endeavour, which we fully support. In fairness to the organisations, they also want to see an end to what the Deputy referred to. I want to see an end to it. My wife is a former county player as well, and I have seen how things are not always equal in that regard. That must end, but I think it will end with the integration process. We wish that process very well. We want it to happen. Significant progress seems to be being made in this process, and I think this will be the answer to those issues the representatives of the GPA raised with me when I met them, and with the Deputy and other colleagues as well.