Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 April 2024
22. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps her Department is taking to encourage the participation of females in sport; if she can provide an update on the programme for Government commitment to increase the level of media coverage, nationally and locally, of women’s sport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16789/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2024, Minister Martin and I announced a record investment of almost €30 million in core funding for sporting organisations for 2024. This funding will ensure that organisations can continue to provide valuable opportunities for everyone to participate in sport.
Under Budget 2024, the funding made available by the Department to the Women in Sport Programme, was doubled to €4 million. This is a very important funding programme for sporting bodies, supporting them in putting programmes in place to increase women’s participation in their sports. I expect to announce the 2024 funding allocations by June.
Women in Sport funding has helped National Governing Bodies of Sport create their own visibility campaigns and projects. Examples include Cycling Ireland’s ‘Bike Like Me’, Basketball Ireland’s ‘Spotlight Her’, Triathlon Ireland ‘Advocates Roles Models’, and Gymnastics Ireland mini documentary series.
Sport Ireland is the authority tasked by the Government with the development of sport in Ireland. In 2023, Sport Ireland hosted a workshop for female sports commentators / analysts to discuss future training needs, as well as a networking event for commentators, current and retired athletes, and the sports media. Sport Ireland will provide further training support and networking events in 2024.
Over the past number of years, Sport Ireland has run successful visibility campaigns to promote female role models in sport, at both a local and national level. These campaigns include, 'Women in Sport Week', 'Her Outdoors Week', 'Her Moves', and 'It’s My Time'.
In 2023, Sport Ireland, through Women in Sport funding, supported the Olympic Federation of Ireland in the creation of a ‘Gender Equality in Media’ module, which is being offered as part of third-level media training courses.
To enhance the role of women in sports media, Sport Ireland has also supported two female sports internship positions in the RTÉ Internship Programme. Further plans are being developed to offer similar opportunities to other media organisations which may wish to adopt an internship model to help promote women in sport.
