GP
Neasa Hourigan
What are the Minister of State's plans to ensure equality in funding of women's and women's Gaelic player grants? Will he make a statement on the matter?
Dail Éireann · 2021-11-11
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Government support for inter-county female Gaelic games players, which is distributed through Sport Ireland, is an indicator of the recognition at national level of the contribution of the athletes to their sport and their commitment to play the game at the highest level possible. Additional funding of €1.7 million is being provided in 2021 and for future years for enhanced support of female inter-county Gaelic games players on a basis equivalent to that for male inter-county Gaelic games players.
I am very pleased that the funding gap has now been eliminated and that, from this year, female Gaelic players will have parity with male players in respect of grant funding. With regard to inter-county players, the grants probably have a larger impact in that they result in players becoming role models for young women in sport.
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What are the Minister of State's plans to ensure equality in funding of women's and women's Gaelic player grants? Will he make a statement on the matter?
I thank Deputy Hourigan for her question. Equality in sport is a key priority for both me and the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin. Our overall vision for women in sport is one where women have an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential while enjoying lifelong involvement.
Government support for inter-county female Gaelic games players, which is distributed through Sport Ireland, is an indicator of the recognition at national level of the contribution of the athletes to their sport and their commitment to play the game at the highest level possible.
Last May, I announced my intention to ensure equality in grant funding for female Gaelic games players from this year forward. Additional funding of €1.7 million is being provided in 2021 and for future years for enhanced support of female inter-county Gaelic games players on a basis equivalent to that for male inter-county Gaelic games players. This additional provision brings the total amount available for female players in this context to €2.4 million. Sport Ireland has established a working group, which includes player representation, to finalise the detailed arrangements for the distribution and oversight of this enhanced State funding to the 1,650 female players concerned. I am very pleased that the funding gap has now been eliminated and that, from this year, female Gaelic players will have parity with male players in respect of grant funding. This is important to the development of women's sport and demonstrates the Government's commitment to equality in sport.
I thank the Minister of State. His commitment to grant equality is very welcome. The grants are important to the individual players involved. It is important that they be equal. With regard to inter-county players, the grants probably have a larger impact in that they result in players becoming role models for young women in sport.
We are aware that kids start out with an interest in sport. To give an example, the gender balance at nursery level in a GAA club in my constituency, Na Fianna, is a result of great work in that club. Parity was reached for the first time in 2020. While it is positive to see kids starting off in equal numbers, we are aware that women tend to drop out in larger numbers as they get older. Sport Ireland's research report Adolescent Girls Get Active identifies role models as comprising one support for keeping young women involved in sport. I am wondering about the level of data tracking on the impact of the grants. Are they being allocated in the proper way? What is the position on other infrastructural supports for women in sport?
I thank Deputy Hourigan. In many nurseries and clubs across the country, the increase in female participation has been so positive. We are seeing this across so many sports but, as the Deputy said, there is attrition, particularly in the teenage years. That creates the participation gap. Sport Ireland has an Irish sports monitor that produces quarterly reports and examines the gender gap. A priority of mine and of the Minister is to abolish the gender gap when it comes to participation and to track the attrition, particularly in the teenage years. It is also a question of trying to promote participation throughout adulthood. There is a lot of oversight and research by Sport Ireland to ensure active participation so women and girls will be given opportunities to stay in sport. We must track the trends in disadvantaged communities and places where participation levels might be lower and address the issue. We are committed to that.
I am aware that time is limited so, considering that I have been talking about Na Fianna, I hope the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, will join me in wishing Kilmacud Crokes, which is in her constituency, and Na Fianna all the best in the Dublin hurling final on Saturday. It is Na Fianna's first time in the final. There is a lot of excitement in our community and we fully intend to beat Kilmacud Crokes.
A Aire Stáit, an bhfuil aon rud le rá agat?
I am not going to speak on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin. I am sure there are many GAA clubs that she supports. My club, St. Brigid's, was beaten by Cuala, which was subsequently beaten by Kilmacud Crokes, if I am not mistaken. We are all looking forward to the hurling final. Castleknock GAA club, in my constituency, is in the Senior B championship and is hoping to get promoted to the Senior A championship. I hope to be at that match. We wish all the players of Na Fianna and Kilmacud Crokes well. We have had a great autumn of league action in football, hurling and camogie. Large numbers have attended local grounds. We had a very positive summer season in sport. There was significant participation over recent weeks and attendance figures have been really positive. In the Ceann Comhairle's constituency, Naas won the Kildare final for the first time since 1991. Different clubs have been winning championships. The essence of sport is clubs competing at county level and bringing everyone along. We wish Deputy Hourigan's club well.