Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 May 2026
35. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the way in which his Department is ensuring delivery of the final-phase targets under the National Sports Policy 2018-2027, particularly the participation and diversity commitments due for completion in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33217/26]
View answerThe National Sports Policy 2018-2027 (NSP) sets out a vision for sport in Ireland in 2027. The Policy is grounded in a ‘Sport for All’ ethos that emphasises inclusion within sport and increasing participation among under-represented cohorts.
The NSP set out an ambitious plan to eradicate the gender participation gap over its lifetime, with significant strides having been made in this regard. The Irish Sports Monitor Report for 2024 shows that sport participation levels among women is at 47%, an increase of one percentage point since 2023, and the gap between men and women is now less than 3%.
Despite recent progress, there is an enduring participation gap between persons with either a long-term illness or a disability and those without such challenges. Both the Department and Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department as the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport including the promotion of sports participation at all levels, are committed to reducing this participation gap.
Published in November 2024, the Sports Action Plan outlined 47 actions to further advance delivery of the NSP prior to its conclusion in 2027. Among the actions set out under the ‘Equality, Diversity, Inclusion’ pillar were the appointment of a Disability in Sport Lead within Sport Ireland and ensuring 40% gender representation on the boards of national sports organisations. In February 2025, Sport Ireland appointed a Disability in Sport Lead and the overall percentage of women on the boards of National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) is currently 47%, representing an increase of 18% since 2020. For Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs), 52% of board members are women.
Government leadership was key to delivering on this progress, particularly the decision to mandate that NGBs and LSPs that failed to reach the 40% board gender balance target would only be permitted to draw dawn 50% of core funding allocation, until such time as the target was reached.
