We recognised the importance of swimming pools in the July stimulus. Some €2.5 million was announced to support them, to continue their operation throughout the pandemic and to provide increased capacity for such facilities. The programme for Government and the national sports policy refer specifically to the importance of facilities that are run by local authorities. The reason we have the LSSIF can be seen when one looks at this year's funding allocations. Some €4.7 million has been allocated for swimming pools s…

The sports capital programme is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 12,000 projects have benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocation since that time to close to €1 billion. The programme has transformed the sporting landscape of Ireland, with improvements in the quality and quantity of sporting facilities in virtually every village, town an…

As I referred to earlier, we are committed to ensuring that we have equality action plans across all the governing bodies. The review, which is being concluded, is examining many criteria around the previous plan. That will be updated in the next round but I take the Deputy's point on that. The programme for Government states that we will prioritise sports capital investment in areas of historic low levels of participation and deprivation. Where there is a participation gap on a gender basis that is an important pi…

On the first point, having had the review we are finalising the criteria. That will be published when we finalise the weighting that will be attached to many different but important areas. The sports capital programme, and its continuity, is committed to in the programme for Government. We are engaged in budgetary discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and we will be able to provide full details on next year in the aftermath of the budgetary process. We are anxious to see sport, and invest…

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 sp…

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 ac…

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 e…

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.

No.

I move: The Order of the Dáil of 5th March 2020 in relation to the Standing Order 131 Select Committee is hereby rescinded and the Committee is accordingly dissolved for the remainder of the 33rd Dáil.

More than two hours have been given for each debate.

We have given over two hours for each debate.

We have also split the debate into two separate debates, as requested by all Members representing the Opposition. We have facilitated the requests made through the Business Committee and the Deputy is getting his debate. We have used all Government time. In fact, we have expanded Government time to facilitate both debates. We can only schedule the time as per the request. Debates lasting 210 minutes each would affect the time given to debate the Private Members' Bill that Deputy Boyd Barrett's colleague is bringing…

No.

I move: "That the Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, relating to the reporting date of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response, be amended by the deletion of '30th September, 2020' and the substitution therefor of "7th October, 2020'."

I propose, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 8 b , motion re the Third Report of the Committee of Selection, shall be taken now without debate and any division demanded thereon shall be taken immediately, and Topical Issues shall take place on the conclusion of the sanitisation sos following the Brexit update statements.

I move: That Dáil Éireann: (a) approves the Third Report of the Standing Committee of Selection in accordance with Standing Order 34, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 24th September, 2020, and appoints members to Select Committees accordingly; and (b) pursuant to Standing Order 104(2), appoints the following members as Chairs of Committees: Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh – Chair of the Committee on the Irish Language, Gaeltacht, and the Irish-speaking Community Deputy Michael Moynihan – Chair of the Commi…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chathaoirleach, agus leis an Seanadóir Ó Donnghaile freisin. I thank the Senator for raising the Government's commitments on a shared island. The Taoiseach has asked me to respond to the points that the Senator has raised. As the Senator will be aware, the programme for Government sets out the Government's commitment to working with all communities and traditions on this island to build a consensus around a shared future. This work will be underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement and the ab…

I acknowledge and note, on behalf of the Government, the Senator's contribution and views. In my initial statement, I set out that the unit has been established. The Government was formed at the end of June. It was a key priority in the programme for Government and it has been established with an assistant secretary general in the Department of the Taoiseach, and the work is now under way. There is no opaqueness about the definitive position, about its structure or about the fact its work programme is actually comm…

I move: That Dáil Éireann, under section 8 of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Acts 2003 to 2018, appoints Deputy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor to be an ordinary member of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission in place of Deputy James Browne, who ceases to hold office as a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission following his appointment as a Minister of State, in accordance with the aforementioned section 8.