Vol. 1085 No. 3
7. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will call for a boycott of the upcoming Nations League matches between Ireland and Israel on the grounds that Israel is an apartheid state that has engaged in ethnic cleansing and genocide; his engagement with an organisation (details supplied) on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32981/26]
Will the Government call for a boycott of the upcoming Nations League matches between Ireland and Israel on the grounds that Israel is an apartheid state that has engaged in ethnic cleansing and genocide? What engagement has the Minister of State had with the FAI on the matter? If he thinks it is okay to ban Russia from international sport, why can the same rule not apply to Israel? Will the Minister of State stop the game and refuse to play ball with genocide?
I thank Deputy Ward for his question.
National governing bodies of sport, such as the Football Association of Ireland, are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures, whether in domestic or international competitions. The Government has no role in deciding who plays who in international sports. The FAI is within its rights to decide to fulfil these upcoming UEFA fixtures and I note its intention to fulfil both fixtures against Israel in September and October. I support the FAI's right to make this decision and the Government will not be calling for a boycott of these games.
The FAI has made this decision in accordance with its obligations as a member of UEFA, the governing body and confederation for football in Europe, and having consulted with An Garda Síochána and other key stakeholders. The FAI has also briefed myself and the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, on this matter, and I understand that it will be engaging with the Norwegian Football Association to learn from its hosting of a match against Israel last year. I understand that the FAI is also continuing to engage with An Garda Síochána to ensure appropriate preparation for, and policing of, the home leg of the fixture.
On a wider note, I want to reiterate that the Government remains committed to working with key partners to end the conflict in Gaza and to advancing a sustainable peace plan. We want all parties to adhere to their commitments in full, desist from any actions inconsistent with what has been agreed and continue to negotiate in good faith to ensure full implementation.
Let us get real here. The Minister of State is ducking any responsibility. If the Government opposed Ireland playing Israel in an international soccer match, the FAI would follow suit. Yesterday a campaign was launched to stop the game between Ireland and Israel. An open letter was signed by many people in Irish soccer, including Brian Kerr, Joe Redmond, Pico Lopez, Louise Quinn and Roddy Collins as well as people outside soccer, including Christy Moore, Senator Frances Black, Kneecap and the Fontaines DC. I am a season ticket holder for the FAI. As a basic human being, I will not attend that match.
Last year, the FAI passed a motion to suspend Israel from UEFA competitions. The Government and the FAI must respect that mandate. The signatories are calling for the game to be stopped on the basis that Israeli teams are playing on occupied Palestinian land and that Israel has a brutal system of apartheid and has committed acts of genocide. The Government accepts that Israel is an apartheid state and is committing acts of genocide. It is inconceivable that the Irish Government is willing to stay silent on this matter while these crimes are going on in the name of football.
The Deputy made the comparison with Russia in his contribution. To tease that out, the Russian exclusion from sporting events was a decision that was made by UEFA, the sporting body. It blocked and barred Russia from participating in competitions as did FIFA. The footballing body decided to do that as well. As we well know, in the European Union at political level, we have sanctions imposed on Russia. In regard to the participation of Israel, there is no such ban by UEFA or, indeed, FIFA. The FAI brought a motion or proposal to UEFA, which was not supported by other member countries. The FAI, as is its prerogative, is working within its footballing union. It is an independent body within this country. It has taken up the matter within UEFA and is fulfilling its responsibilities in that regard and the Government supports its right to do so.
The Minister of State mentioned sanctions on Russia. The Government has still not enacted the occupied territories Bill. We are still waiting. That was a promise in the programme for Government. What the Government has responsibility for is who comes into our country. Can the Minister of State guarantee that those arriving to support Israel have not taken part in or supported genocide? What security measures will be in place to stop people who have taken part in or supported the slaughter of 75,000 Palestinian people from entering Ireland? How will the Government screen for those who have committed the most barbaric crimes from entering the country? Will they be arrested at the airport for crimes of collective punishment, mass displacement or genocide? Can the Minister of State even guarantee that the Israeli players themselves are not or were not members of the Israel Defense Forces? Are we going to stand by and allow supporters and perpetrators of genocide to enter our country? This part of it is the Minister of State’s responsibility. I urge the Minister of State to stop the game: do not play ball with genocide and be on the right side of history.
From a political point of view Ireland and the Irish Government has led out internationally in relation to the atrocities we have seen happen in Palestine as part of the conflict and in terms of providing leadership and trying to bring about a peaceful settlement to the conflict. We have set the agenda in many ways at European and international levels in relation to the approach and stance we took which subsequently many other countries rallied around as time went on. We continue to play our role internationally to try to ensure there is a sustainable peace settlement in Palestine. As a country, we have also led out on the development of and are assessing the legal challenges around implementing an occupied territories Bill.
What about the security measures?
The FAI is an independent organisation working within the footballing and governance structures internationally. UEFA has not prevented Israel from taking part in competitions such as happened in the case of Russia. The FAI is engaging with An Garda Síochána in relation to the appropriate policing arrangements for the game.
8. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the engagements he and his Department have had with local authorities and national sporting bodies to ensure local sports clubs are supported in applying for available grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32806/26]
Will the Minister of State outline the engagements he and his Department have had with local authorities and national sporting bodies in advance of the forthcoming round of sports capital grants?
I thank the Deputy for the question. I know the sports facilities fund is something he is very committed to in relation to supporting clubs in his local area. In line with the previous rounds of the community sport facilities fund, a review of the current funding round has been undertaken and will be finalised shortly. It is anticipated that the objective of the next round will particularly target areas and sports that have been under-invested in over the years. We are working to be in a position to be ready for opening a new round next month.
The Department is currently collating feedback from sporting clubs and organisations which will provide valuable input to our ongoing preparations for that next round. I and my officials engage regularly with local authorities and national governing bodies and this engagement is helping to shape the criteria for the new round. New guidelines will be published in advance of the opening of the next round to ensure clubs have clarity in relation to the application round. We will also undertake a comprehensive communication round to help clubs make their applications.
My aim is to have as many eligible sporting bodies as possible applying, by simplifying the application process and guide, and carrying out a wide-reaching communications campaign, including with local authorities and national governing bodies. Many clubs are relying on volunteers, and with a revised and simplified application and assessment process which my Department is implementing, it will be easier and quicker for clubs to navigate the system at all stages and allow for quicker turnaround times while also streamlining the workload for my Department.
As I travel to many different parts of the country, I provide the opportunity for sports clubs to engage with me. I get their feedback on the challenges they face and how best we can make sure this next round of community sport facilities fund meets their needs as well as to give them as much information and answer as many questions as they have on how the programme and fund has worked and how they can best prepare for the next round. Once we finalise that review and publish the new round, we will communicate that clearly through the national governing bodies and through our sporting organisations.
I welcome that engagement. I want to highlight an issue particularly in cities. Often within cities land is the key issue. There might be land owned by one party and then there is a club or sporting body. That needs a degree of co-ordination. Of specific concern to me is that co-ordination and bringing parties together is not being done on a structured level. I have done it in my own communities where I have tried to bring different parties together. Dublin City Council’s parks have so much potential across the city. I am not certain that at a senior level in the city council the opportunity of the sport facilities grant is being taken serious in regard to all-weather pitches. There are parks right across my area that have the potential. There is already the example in Finglas west, the Kildonan model, where two soccer clubs have joint access to a new all-weather facility. I want to see that in parks right across Dublin City Council. That involves Dublin City Council leading the charge.
Particularly in large urban areas such as Dublin city land can be a real challenge. That is why with the last round but particularly this upcoming round we are looking to encourage educational institutions as well as local authorities to work with clubs to make joint applications.
For example, where we can get a school that has some land available, where facilities can be improved and the children can use that during the school day and a club or community can use it in the evening, we get a lot more participation return for the investment that we are making. I have tasked my officials with engaging in more detail with the Department of environment and the local authority structure about how we can better structure the collaboration in relation to identifying land and making sure that it is part of our wider policy analysis and sweep, to make sure that the provision of sporting infrastructure and amenity infrastructure is considered with regard to how we develop communities, particularly new communities.
I welcome what the Minister of State is saying. When the sports capital grant opens, it is almost too late to start to bring together parties in that way. That is why the city council has such an opportunity to lead on this. I am looking at a park like Albert College, for example. Many soccer clubs but also GAA clubs really need somebody to bring them together and to put that package together on city council land in a park. I am thinking of clubs like Glasnevin FC, which really wants an all-weather facility in Albert College. There are other parks like Johnstown Park or Poppintree Park in my area that could do with all-weather facilities. We know these pitches are used widely at the moment but the wet weather that we have often reduces the amount of usage that they get. Our public parks are for everybody and we do not want to see public parks losing space, but a well co-ordinated plan and better co-ordination with the Department of heritage about brent geese needs to happen. I ask the Minister of State to reach out to Dublin City Council and ask it what its intention is this year, because I am fearful that it will not be substantial or ambitious enough.
I have engaged on this and will meet local authorities across Dublin in advance of the round opening, with the objective of making sure that they are being as proactive as possible. I know from visiting a number of clubs and working with the Deputy in his own area that he and other representatives working with him are trying to ensure that the local authority is prioritising this as well. There are challenges, particularly in urban areas, but those are challenges that we want to try to do our best to address. It requires everyone working together. Regarding the next upcoming round, we want to see that happen as much as possible. Also, with regard to long-term planning, there should be a joined-up policy and regulatory approach to make sure that land availability is considered in the context of supporting and growing a community.
10. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he plans to introduce a scheme to support sports clubs with the cost of purchasing land for playing pitches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31768/26]
I ask the Minister of State if he plans to introduce a scheme to support sports clubs with the cost of purchasing land for playing pitches. I could include buildings. My question is about providing clubs with a permanent home, whether playing pitches, boxing clubs and so on. It is a big issue for clubs across the State, particularly in urban centres and, in my case, in the commuter belt area, where the State does not own land.
The programme for Government commits to supporting local authorities in the acquisition of new lands for parks and playing pitches to help to build liveable communities. While neither of my Department's sports capital funding programmes, the community sport facilities fund, CSFF, or the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF, provide for the acquisition of land, I would be supportive of local authority acquisition of lands for sport and recreation purposes. I have asked my officials to engage further with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage's officials in this regard and will liaise further with the Minister to assess steps that we can take to make real progress on this and on working with local authorities to identify and secure land.
Once lands are acquired for sporting purposes, applications for capital investment, including equipment, on those lands can be supported by both the CSFF and the LSSIF. In line with previous rounds of the CSFF, a review of the current funding round is being undertaken and will be finalised shortly, in advance of it opening. My Department is aiming to announce the opening of applications over the course of this summer. Regarding the LSSIF, our current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds and this process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round.
Both the Minister and Minister of State have to be aware that this is a major issue. We are here for oral questions every six weeks or so. Every time we are here, this question comes up, particularly in the urban areas, Dublin and the wider commuter belt. The issue is that there are public parks and they are oversubscribed and, certainly in my area, that the State does not own land. The first question I asked when I was a county councillor elected to Meath County Council in 2014 was to show me the land that the council or the State owns in the area I was elected for. It is minuscule. Clubs are entirely dependent on negotiation or some sort of deal under the county development plan. They are renting and are sent from pillar to post. It is a major issue and there needs to be a solution for it. Whether it is the Minister's Department or the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, we need a solution for this.
We need to do more on this. Certainly, with the next round of the community sport facilities fund opening over the course of this summer, we want to try to do as much as we can in that short timeframe to encourage collaboration between schools, local authorities and clubs. We also have to look at how we can do more to identify land and communal grounds where municipal-type facilities can be developed. The programme for Government commits to that. My officials and I are engaging with the Department of housing to establish that. One recent example I saw was a GAA club where the local authority had required that an area the size of a football pitch be made available to the club free of charge as part of a zoning permission for a new housing estate beside that pitch. That is the type of joined-up thinking we need to see more of and that is the objective.
I could name any number of soccer clubs, including Stamullen FC, Killegland AFC and Kells Celtic FC, and boxing clubs which are in precarious situations. For example, they may be renting a corner of a gym. Many important sporting clubs and organisations have been without a permanent home for a long time and a solution needs to be provided. I have heard the Minister of State mention this developer-led approach where there can be negotiations and conditions on planning applications. I have also heard and have experience of working with educational facilities. It is very slow. An Teachta Seán Crowe was here before to address a specific roadblock. I have experience of people going for a sports capital grant on school facilities who did not get the okay and had to pull out of it. It is not a permanent solution but where it works, it works. In an awful lot of cases, it does not work. We need the State to step in and say it will build communities and support people doing it.
The key thing is that we have to make the biggest impact we can with what is available, and also look to grow what is available too. There are opportunities in many communities where there could be land available through schools and local authorities to collaborate with clubs. That is a message that we are getting out as strongly as we can with regard to this new round to encourage that collaboration, but there are also challenges regarding availability of land and it not being available. We are engaging across Departments about that to see how we can do more. Tools are available to local authorities, like I described, to be able to identify lands and to help to make them available, but we certainly need to make that more of a priority and for it to become more standard practice in how we step out and plan for new communities and make sure that their sporting and recreational needs are fully catered for.
11. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the funding agreed by Government for the post office network in January 2026; if the funding has been made available to An Post; the projects and services the funding will be allocated to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33216/26]
Ba mhian liom ceist a chur ar an Aire Stáit uasdátú a thabhairt ar mhaoiniú a d’fhógair an Rialtas do líonra Oifig an Phoist i mí Eanáir. I ask the Minister of State for an update on the €15 million agreed by Government for the post office network in January, if the funding has been made available to An Post, and what projects and services the funding will be allocated to.
I thank Deputy Ó Cearúil for his question and his ongoing advocacy on behalf of the post office network and its importance for local communities.
The post office network is a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout the country. On the back of that, the programme for Government states that the Government will continue to provide the nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. In that regard, on 13 January 2026, the Government approved renewed funding for the post office network for the next five years, running from 2026 to 2030, at an enhanced amount of €15 million per annum from my Department. That has increased from €10 million per annum.
In line with the programme for Government, the funding will support the stability and sustainability of the nationwide network of post offices, protecting and nurturing a commercially focused post office network. It will also support access for citizens to the key social benefits of the post office network and help citizens access services effectively and equitably.
The Government also agreed the principles on which the funding model will operate, which include maintaining access to the network across urban and rural Ireland, aligning individual funding with criteria, including the degree of isolation and the sustainability of each post office, ensuring a minimum revenue threshold for post offices, and recognising offices of cultural or geographic significance, such as those on inhabited islands or in Gaeltacht areas.
My Department is progressing the necessary legislation to place this funding on an appropriate statutory footing. I will shortly prepare a memo to bring to Government to publish the legislation which has been drafted in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General. As matters stand, that funding is being provided from the start of this year by An Post to the post offices. Once the legislation is passed by this House, we will reimburse An Post and provide that funding for this year.
Decisions relating to the network, including decisions relating to specific post offices, are always operational matters for the board of An Post and the management of the company.
The Minister of State and I agree the post office network and post offices, particularly in rural Ireland, are vital community infrastructure. I pay tribute to the Irish Postmasters Union for the work it is doing on behalf of the postmasters throughout the country and our party colleague, Councillor Tom O'Callaghan, for his advocacy as well. I appreciate the €15 million that has been allocated. However, the question that still remains for a lot of the postmasters is when the funding will reach the network so that they actually see it. I appreciate that the Minister of State said it has already been allocated but a lot of the postmasters have not seen any of it yet.
Furthermore, what specific improvements or protections will the funding support? Part of that is looking at extending the post office network into other areas, such as click and collect, and making the business more commercially viable, operating in the heart of a community and delivering services that would not be available if it were not for An Post.
My understanding is that, since the start of the year, the funding is being paid from An Post to postmasters. If there are any particular instances where that is not the case, I will be happy to have them followed up. That is my understanding of the situation based on the briefing I have received on it. An Post is due to get €15 million, which is an increase from €10 million last year. This requires short legislation going through the Houses. Our objective is to have that completed by the summer. Once that legislation has been facilitated, we can make the €15 million payment for this year to An Post. This will cover the funding the company has already given post offices since the start of the year and the funding that is required to carry post offices through to the end of the year and, going forward, to 2030.
It would also be beneficial to have annual reporting on that €15 million to ensure there is transparency as regards where and how it is being spent. That would be extremely helpful in order to get a better understanding and ensuring value for money for the additional funding the Government is providing to the post office network.
There was very strong engagement between the Irish Postmasters Union and An Post in relation to agreeing the criteria for how the funding will be distributed. An agreement on its distribution, including the criteria around that for each of the five years, has been finalised and is now in place for postmasters. That Government commitment, under which we have increased our funding to the post office network by 50% since last year and increased certainty around the future of that funding by putting in place a five-year agreement as opposed to the three-year agreement it is replacing, has been very much welcomed by postmasters throughout the country and the Irish Postmasters Union. It reflects the commitment of everyone in the House, including the Deputy and I and, in particular, the Government, to supporting the post office network. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and for his ongoing advocacy on behalf of the post office network and of its importance to local communities.
12. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport an bhfuil sé ar an eolas faoi gheo-bhlocáil a chuireann isteach ar chláracha Gaeilge ó chraoltóirí seirbhíse poiblí a bheith ar fáil don lucht féachana sna Sé Chontae, ar sheirbhís bheo agus ar sheinnteoirí ar líne araon, agus an bhfuil sé i gceist aige aon ghníomh a chur i gcrích chun a chinntiú go bhfuil fáil ag an lucht féachana fud fad na hÉireann ar ábhar sa teanga náisiúnta. [33400/26]
Baineann an cheist seo leis an geo-bhlocáil atá á dhéanamh ar chláracha Gaeilge ó chraoltóirí seirbhíse poiblí nach bhfuil ar fáil don lucht féachana sna Sé Chontae de bharr an geo-bhlocáil atá á dhéanamh ar sheirbhísí beo agus ar sheinnteoirí ar líne araon. An bhfuil sé i gceist ag an Aire aon ghníomh a dhéanamh chun deireadh a chur leis an geo-bhlocáil sin ionas gur féidir le lucht féachana ar fud na hÉireann ábhair atá á chraoladh sa teanga náisiúnta a fháil?
I measc na n-aidhmeanna atá ag RTÉ agus ag TG4 is ea go gcuirfeadh an dá chraoltóir seirbhíse poiblí a gcuid seirbhísí ar fáil, a mhéid agus is féidir é, don phobal uile ar oileán uile na hÉireann. Tá RTÉ agus TG4 araon ar fáil i dTuaisceart Eireann ar an ardán Freeview, chomh maith le hardáin síntiúis eile, ach is féidir bac a chur ar ábhair áirithe ar bhonn cearta. De réir mar a thuigim, nuair a cheannaíonn an dá stáisiún cearta ar ábhar craoltóireacht, ar nós imeachtaí spóirt, déanann siad iarracht cearta a cheannach ar bhonn oileán uile nuair is féidir. Ní bhíonn sé seo éasca i gcónaí. Is é an gnáthnós sa saol craoltóireachta ná cearta a dhíol ar bhonn críche. Mar sin is minic nach dtairgtear ábhar do RTÉ agus TG4, nó ní bhíonn siad in ann ábhar a fháil gur féidir a chraoladh i dTuaisceart Éireann nó áit eile taobh amuigh den Stát as Béarla nó as Gaeilge. Is minic a bhíonn cearta críche ar chláir, nó ar ábhair faoi leith, faighte cheana féin ag craoltóir sa Ríocht Aontaithe don dlínse sin ar fad. Cuireann sé seo cosc ar RTÉ agus TG4 iarracht a dhéanamh an t-ábhar sin a cheannach don oileán uile. I gcásanna áirithe, cé go bhféadfadh cearta uile-oileáin a bheith ag RTÉ nó TG4 maidir le craoladh líneach, tá cosc orthu ábhar a chraoladh ar sheirbhísí sruthú, mar a bhíonn acu ar na seinnteoirí, lasmuigh den Stát.
Baineann an cheist seo le halt a bhí ar Journal.ie le déanaí. Is ceist í atá ardaithe agam agus ag daoine eile i dTithe an Oireachtais. Baineann sí le cláir do leanaí ar nós "Bluey" nó "Dora". Bíonn an clár “Dora” ar TG4 agus bíonn “Bluey” ar RTÉ. Tá geo-bhlocáil á dhéanamh. San alt céanna, dúirt Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh ó Chonradh na Gaeilge:
Tá sé scannalach, beagnach 30 bliain ar aghaidh ó Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta, go bhfuil RTÉ iad féin ag déanamh socruithe clár teilifíse a cheannach agus a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge, agus ansin bac a chur...[orthu siúd] do phobal na Gaeilge atá lonnaithe sna sé chontae.
Bhí leanaí Phádraig ag baint sult as "Bluey" trí Ghaeilge agus iad ar saoire I dTír Chonaill. Nuair a d'fhill siad abhaile, áfach, bhí "Bluey" imithe don seinnteoir. Tá muid anois tamall maith de bhlianta ó Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta inar glacadh leis go ndéanfaí cinntí le déanamh cinnte de nach mbeadh cosc nó baic maidir le cothú agus forbairt na teanga.
Tuigim cé chomh tábhachtach is atá an clár "Bluey", an leaid gorm sin as an Astráil, don lucht féachana Béarla agus Gaeilge araon. Tá an clár tábhachtach do na gasúir óga agus iad sa bhaile. Ní hamháin go bhfuil sé tábhachtach do na gasúir, ach tá sé tábhachtach do na tuismitheoirí freisin. Is ceist thábhachtach í. Ní hamháin go mbaineann an cheist seo leis an gclár "Bluey" agus na cláir eile a chraoltar do na gasúir óga, ach baineann sí le stádas na teanga i dTuaisceart Éireann. Leagadh amach i gComhaontú Aoine an Chéasta a thábhachtaí is atá an Ghaeilge. Mar is eol don Teachta, bhí mé i m'Aire Stáit a raibh freagrachtaí na Gaeltachta air.
Bhí an-chuid fadhbanna ag an Rialtas anseo ag déileáil leis an bhFeidhmeannas i dTuaisceart Éireann maidir le stádas na Gaeilge i dTuaisceart Éireann. Ar an gcead dul síos, is ceist í seo don Fheidhmeannas agus do Rialtas na Ríochta Aontaithe, ach tuigim cé chomh tábhachtach is atá an cheist seo, ní hamháin don chlár "Bluey" ach do stádas na teanga i dTuaisceart Éireann freisin.
Tuigim go dtuigeann an tAire an cheist. Ní bhím ag féachaint ar "Bluey" mórán ach nuair atá na garpháistí linn, bíonn siad á lorg i mBéarla, i nGaeilge nó i pé teanga ina gcraoltar é. Is breá leo "Bluey". Nuair a bhí m'iníon óg, is ar an chlár "Dora" a bhíodh sí ag féachaint. Nuair atá RTÉ agus TG4 ag ceannach cláir mar seo agus ag déanamh aistriúcháin orthu, má dhéanann siad iad féin é, tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil na ceadúnais acu chun na cláir a chraoladh fud fad na hÉireann ina iomláine. D’fhoilsigh mé an Bille Craolacháin (Seirbhís Uile-Éireann) (Leasú), 2025 chun díriú isteach ar an gceist seo. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeadh an Rialtas ag díriú isteach air seo ionas gur féidir linn teacht timpeall ar an bhfadhb seo.
B’fhéidir gur ceist í seo don Roinn gnóthaí eachtracha nó Roinn an Taoisigh mar tá sí an-tábhachtach. Mar atá leagtha amach i gComhaontú Aoine an Chéasta, comhaontaíodh go mbeadh TG4 ar fáil chomh forleathan agus ab fhéidir ar fud Thuaisceart Éireann. Tá stádas TG4 agus stádas tábhachtach na Gaeilge leagtha amach cheana féin. Tá a fhios ag an Teachta na deacrachtaí a bhí agam maidir le Foras na Gaeilge nuair a bhí mé i m’Aire Stáit le freagrachtaí don Ghaeilge agus do na Gaeltachtaí. Tuigim cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sé seo, ní hamháin do na gasúir ach freisin do stádas na Gaeilge. Le críoch a chur leis an ábhar seo, tá an Teachta ar nós "Bluey" ar maidin agus é ag caitheamh léine goirme, chomh maith le seaicéad gorm. Tá sé go hálainn an léine gorm a fheiceáil ar maidin.
13. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the actions being taken to protect young people online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32803/26]
I ask the Minister to outline the actions being taken by his Department to protect young people online.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht an ábhair tábhachtaigh seo a chur os comhair na Dála ar maidin. Ireland's online safety framework includes the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, the EU Digital Services Act and the online safety code. That code requires that designated platforms restrict access to certain categories of content that could cause harm, including to children. Those include cyberbullying and promoting eating disorders, dangerous challenges, self-harm and suicide. The code came into full effect in July 2025 and applies EU-wide in respect of platforms established in the State, including many of the larger platforms. Failure to comply can lead to significant financial sanctions of up to €20 million or 10% of turnover.
The Digital Services Act includes obligations to protect minors. Failure by a platform to comply can also lead to significant sanctions. However, the developing nature of digital services requires continuing vigilance. The protection of children and young people in the online world remains of the utmost importance to the Government. It is a key theme in our most recent national digital and AI strategy.
Under the online safety code, designated platforms must use robust age assurance measures to prevent minors from accessing pornography or gratuitous violence. I am determined to make sure that this requirement can be implemented. Officials in my Department are working with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer on an age verification tool within Ireland's digital wallet. This will meet high standards of privacy, confirming to platforms only whether a person is over 18.
I am exploring options for introducing restrictions on social media use for young people under 16. It is Government policy and my firm belief that there should be a restriction at EU level, and I have been engaging with EU counterparts in that regard. If a common approach is not achieved at EU level, I will seek Government approval to take action at a national level.
Online safety for children is a priority for Ireland's Presidency of the European Union. The evaluation of the audiovisual media services directive, which will be published during our Presidency, may also yield proposals for other new measures to protect children online. I will be hosting a high-level Presidency conference in Dublin dedicated to this, which will review progress and discuss options for further measures.
I thank the Minister for that overview. As a parent, I am supremely worried about online technology harms. To a person on the street, it seems we have a wait-and-see approach. I feel child welfare is quite often dismissed due to our dependence on technology companies in the Irish economy, not by the Government but that is what it is seen as quite regularly. We see younger and younger children accessing mental health supports. We have to acknowledge the correlation between social media and online harms and our children's mental health. I see this as a public health issue, on which we must act fast.
I am glad to hear the Minister is making this a priority during the European Presidency because we have to make it a priority. He mentioned that the code of conduct came into effect in 2025. Does it work? What are the results? Have we seen any sanctions so far? Does Coimisiún na Meán have the resources and personnel it needs?
To go back to a previous question, Coimisiún na Meán is self-financed in terms of the regulation. Regulation costs money and that is why levies are imposed. People do not like that, and the previous Deputy said she did not like it. That is a separate issue, however. I am a parent as well and I am not happy with what is happening, particularly at EU level. This issue was raised at the EU Council meeting last week, and there was a shift in attitude on it. At the previous EU Council meeting, there was a view that the Digital Services Act was enough. It was very clear last week, maybe with the exception of one or two countries, that everyone now wants action taken on this. I had a bilateral meeting with the Commissioner at which I made my Department’s priorities clear. We have one sole priority, and I laid that out clearly. Everything else the Commission wants us to do as a Government in the areas of communications, postal and everything else will be predicated on its commitment to working with us on this. If it does not work with us on this, we will not work with it on those other areas. That is the way I am going to play ball. There is no issue facing the European Union at the moment that is more pressing than the protection of our children. If people do not get that message the easy way, we will do it the hard way.
I appreciate the strong line the Minister is taking on this. It is positive that this will be the single line of importance for his Department during the European Union Presidency. It is important we take a zero-tolerance approach to this and that we look after our children. As I said, it is a public health issue. The damage it has caused to our children will stay with them. I also extend that to online social media in general for all of us in the country. People would not dare say the things they say online to people as they walk down the street. If they cannot say it to someone's face, they should not say it online. Everyone in this House has been a victim of nonsense being said about them online. When we meet those people in person, however, they are as quiet as mouses. We have to stand tall and ensure we put pressure on the digital media companies to stamp it out. They have responsibility.
I agree entirely with the Deputy. For anyone who did not hear it, I restate that if a common approach is not possible at EU level, I will seek Government approval to take action at a national level. That is not mañana. If I feel, having taken over the Chair of the Presidency, that this is something the Commission or a significant blocking minority is resisting, we will go it alone like France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg and a number of other countries have done.
The sad reality is that the Commission and the European institutions have left it to individual member states to act unilaterally in this regard. That is not how Europe should work. This question should not be about anything other than the protection of the European child. At the moment, that is not the case. If I feel, having taken the chair of the Council of Ministers, that this is something being pushed back on by the Commission or there is a reluctance to move it forward, I will bring forward proposals for Ireland to deal with it unilaterally in our jurisdiction by implementing a digital age of majority, as other countries have done.
15. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the next round of sports capital grants will be opened for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33161/26]
16. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when he hopes to open up the community sport facilities fund and the large-scale sports infrastructure fund for applications. [33164/26]
18. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the next round of the sports capital grant will open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32999/26]
19. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the capital funding programmes for sport, such as the community sport facilities fund will open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33292/26]
27. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if there will be increased levels of grant aid in the next community sports facilities fund scheme, taking into account the substantial increase in construction costs since the last round of grants were approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33411/26]
33. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the review into the current funding round community sport facilities fund will be finalised; the budget allocation for the forthcoming CSFF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32811/26]
39. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when he expects to open the sports capital and equipment grant programme for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32459/26]
40. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport in light of his Department aiming to open the new round of the CSFF in the first half of 2026, when the new guidelines will be published in advance to include updated eligibility and likely assessment criteria in this next round; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32741/26]
56. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when details of the next community sport facilities fund will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33410/26]
When does the Minister hope to open the community sports facilities fund and the large-scale sports infrastructure fund for applications?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 16, 18, 19, 27, 33, 39, 40 and 56 together.
I thank Deputies McGrath and Cleere for their questions. The programme for Government commits to continuing to support the funding of sports capital projects and assessing the distribution of funding in order to maximise participation in all sports at community and national level. My Department's Statement of Strategy 2025-2028 commits to continuing to invest in sports infrastructure through the community sports facilities fund, CSFF, and also the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF. Deputies will be aware that these funds are critical to advancing the development of sporting facilities in different counties and parts of the country. This infrastructure is key to sporting participation and success and we will continue to invest in it.
One of the benefits of the investment we have seen as a result of the community sports facilities fund over the last years has been a growing level of participation. Sport Ireland's sport monitor shows that just under 50% of the adult male population now participate in sport at least once a week and among women, just 3% less than that, at 47%, participate in sport at least once a week. Significantly, in recent years we have seen the closing of the gender gap between the participation levels of men and women. This success is putting significant additional pressure on our sporting clubs and organisations in relation to the need for facilities and the quality and standard of facilities. This is all a result of that success.
The Government's objective, through grants from the community sports facilities fund, is to work with clubs to help them develop their facilities. We have seen the significant impact these grants have had since 1998 when the community sports facilities fund, previously the sports capital fund, was established. A total of €1.4 billion has been invested in grants to clubs, with 19,000 different projects supported. There has been a significant and generational change in the quality of facilities across the country as a result. The most recent round saw the largest ever investment in the community sports facilities fund, at just under €270 million, with over 3,000 projects supported and 40 different sports types benefiting.
We are now in the process of preparing for the next round. Significant work on a review of the previous round has been undertaken. We are working towards being ready to open for applications next month. We also have to finalise our engagement with the Department of public expenditure in advance of that. A lot of work has been carried out. We are also in the position of finalising a new communications or IT platform on which applications will be received. Everyone involved with clubs across the country will be very familiar with the OSCAR platform, which has been in place for over 20 years. Work is being finalised on a new platform which will be ready to accept applications on this occasion. It will be more user-friendly for clubs and for those making applications.
We are also finalising the finer detail in relation to the terms and conditions and how the scheme will operate. These will be made clear to clubs when we open it up. This applies to the standard club applications, which, under the previous round, were for a maximum grant of €200,000, and the regional applications, which were for a maximum grant of €500,000 under the previous round. The stream within the community sports facilities fund for equipment grants will be available again this time around. That was capped at €70,000 last time around. Clubs can apply for that. We had discussions earlier about the challenges of getting access to premises. Through this round, we want to bring about more collaboration around how people provide facilities where clubs do not have premises. Basketball and boxing clubs, for example, which may not have a premises and instead rent premises, are eligible to apply for equipment grants. Clubs must have a lease or ownership of a premises if they are applying for a capital development grant, but not so for equipment grants. This is certainly an option that clubs will be able to avail of as well.
I am meeting many clubs to gain feedback and provide information opportunities to clubs in different counties. We are also engaging on their experience of previous rounds of funding. The information gathered as part of that will help inform the review of this round to make sure it is as workable and practical as possible for clubs and to address the particular challenges we see as regards areas that have growing demand and sports that may have been underfunded in the past. We are working towards being able to open up the fund, all things going well, next month, pending Government approvals, and to have an application round over the next months.
I very much welcome the Minister of State's commitment in relation to these sports schemes. They are critically important. We are a proud sporting nation, as the Minister of State outlined. It is critical that we continue to invest in sporting facilities. There are many sporting clubs, community groups and national governing bodies waiting for the sports funds to open for applications. I see the importance of sporting clubs in my community. They are the thread that holds the community together. They provide a very positive outlet for people of all ages, particularly young people. It is essential in the world we are living in that we provide this positive outlet. Sport provides immeasurable benefits from a health point of view, both physical and mental health. It is critical, therefore, that we continue to invest in sporting facilities. I welcome the commitment the Minister of State gave and the fact that the community sports facilities fund is likely to open for applications in June.
I also asked about the large-scale sports infrastructure fund. If the Minister of State or the Minister could give us some clarification in relation to that, it would be welcome.
I thank the Minister of State and acknowledge his role in the sports capital grant. To see the fund increase under previous governments from €70 million to €170 million and then to €270 million in the previous round has been absolutely fantastic. This Government needs to continue to support and invest in sporting organisations right across the country.
The caps on the regional, local and equipment grants were €500,000, €200,000 and €70,000, respectively, in the previous round. It is my strong view that grants need to be brought in line with increased costs. I implore the Minister of State to try, to the best of his ability, to get all three of those caps increased to give clubs a fighting chance.
Sports capital grants are a shot in the arm for clubs that are the lifeblood of communities. They are at the heart and soul of communities right across the country. They make a phenomenal difference and the Government has to continue to support them. I look forward to the funds opening up in June for the thousands of clubs across the country that can benefit from this significant funding.
We have all seen the benefits of sports capital grants. There was a lot of conversation about the sports capital grant for the pitch and lights in Oriel Park. It has been a great benefit and absolutely necessary. We need that to continue. I add my voice to the call to increase the caps of €200,000 and €500,000 given the higher costs, especially with serious capital builds.
When will the large-scale sports infrastructure fund open? This is of major interest, not only to Dundalk Football Club and Oriel Park, but particularly to Louth GAA. We have seen the work on the stadium going on, and rightly so. If this was a couple of weeks ago, I would be talking about how great the Louth team is doing but it has been a rough week. I commend the under-20 team on a good came against Kildare. The best of luck to them. Hopefully we do better at senior level against Dublin next time.
I thank Deputies McGrath, Cleere and Ó Murchú. With regard to Deputy McGrath's question on the large-scale infrastructure fund, we have had two rounds of that fund so far, in 2019 and 2024. The national development plan provides for one round to be conducted and opened during this Government term. We expect it will be a couple of years from now, towards the latter end of the Government, because the current focus is on drawing down funding and making sure the projects funded in the most recent round are followed through on. We will be monitoring that closely. We are not talking about the next year or 18 months, but a time beyond that, perhaps in a couple of years. We will monitor it as it goes.
We will monitor that closely. We are not talking about the next year or 18 months. We are talking a couple of years beyond that. We will monitor it as it goes. There will be one round of the LSSIF over the Government's terms.
We are considering the caps as part of the review. The Minister and I will engage with the Department of public expenditure and across government as well to make sure that the funding envelope can be as strong as possible. That will inform where we are at with the caps as well in terms of the level of funding that can be made available and our general guidance on that. Going around the country, I met Deputies McGrath and Cleere in their own areas. I know they have many projects they want to see going forward. There is real demand. It is exceptionally rare that I visit a club or an organisation that is not under pressure for capacity and space. That is a reflection of the really strong work that the volunteer input that drives our clubs and makes support possible in communities is achieving. From a Government point of view, we have to work to try to support clubs with their key priorities in how they are developing their club best to meet the needs of their members and the participation demands that are on them as well.
We look forward to working closely with the Deputies to finalise the detail of this review, and then to having a round open over the next number of months and to make sure that it is as practical and as accessible as possible for clubs to be able to participate in it. We will all work collectively as a Government then to try to support the great work happening in our communities, driven by clubs and underpinned entirely by a voluntary commitment and effort. It makes such a difference and is such a gift from those people to their local communities in terms of the time they give up throughout their week for a wonderful dividend with sport being part of more and more people's lives on a regular basis.
I welcome the Minister of State's acknowledgement of the volunteers who help to run these sporting clubs across our country. They are critically important. People give up their time to proved a positive outlet for people of all ages in our communities. I want to add one point on the need to continue to invest in our sports facilities. Housing is our number one priority as a Government and we are rezoning additional land across the country. We will see additional houses built in our towns and villages. It is critically important that we invest in our social infrastructure, such as sporting facilities, to provide outlets and amenities for people. As I mentioned to the Minister of State previously, in my hometown of Carrigaline I have a project in the pipeline for the LSSIF. This is why I am interested in that fund. This is a combined application made up of a number of local sporting groups and we have a very ambitious project in the pipeline, so I will follow up on that with him in due course. I welcome the fact that there is a commitment to open up that fund during the Government's term.
As the Minister of State knows, I have a number of projects and I am sure we will discuss them at length in due course. I want to pay tribute to his colleagues in Killarney as well. Ken and the lads have been fantastic in any dealings I have had with them on existing schemes to new ones going forward. I welcome the Minister of State's commitment to the LSSIF to open in late 2027 or early 2028 as provided for in the programme for Government. We have some key infrastructure projects in my constituency that I look forward to discussing with the Minister of State as well.
Last night in Kilkenny I attended an amazing event for an incredible young man called Peter Lynch. He is the fastest marathon runner in the Republic of Ireland. He ran 2:06:08 to finish ninth in the London marathon and was the first European past the post. Peter is a product of Kilkenny City Harriers. In March, he ran the first sub one hour half marathon in New York, which was an incredible achievement. The community of Kilkenny City Harriers and Kilkenny County Council came out last night to support and congratulate this young man on his incredible achievements. It is important in this House that we acknowledge that Peter was an ordinary young lad growing up, worked his way through and showed incredible and resourcefulness. To come away and be a pure champion is absolutely fantastic. I pay tribute to Peter Lynch and Kilkenny City Harriers for their fantastic work.
I agree. We all know the necessity of sport as being a real positive in a world of many negatives. It is about making sure that the money does come on stream and that the Government would look at the caps. Whether it is Louth GAA, Dundalk FC or Drogheda United, they would be somewhat worried about what looks like a delay in the LSSIF. It is necessary, particularly for League of Ireland clubs. I said it about Louth previously and now I will say it about Dundalk FC. Hopefully we will do better against Bohemians at the weekend than we have done in the last while. We also need to make sure that we support the likes of Peter Lynch, Kate O'Connor and those who are coming behind them. We know some good work has been done but there is a lot more that needs to be done. We are starting from behind in some cases.
