Written Answers Nos. 182-191
182. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if there is funding available for disability inclusion in sport at grassroots level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34638/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government sets out an ambitious future for sport in Ireland where equality of access and opportunity is a key theme. Inclusion and diversity is an absolute priority for me in my role as Minister for Sport.
Despite recent progress, there is an enduring participation gap between persons with either a long-term illness or a disability and those without such illness or disability. 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 extremely committed to making this participation gap a thing of the past.
In advancing and evolving its commitment to disability inclusion in sport, Sport Ireland set out five clear statements of commitment, with accompanying actions on the topics of Change, Communications, Access, Capacity, Leadership.
Increased funding secured for sport in Budget 2025 enabled Sport Ireland to appoint a Disability in Sport Lead in February of this year. The creation of the post delivered on an action set out in both the Sport Action Plan 2024-2027 and the Sport Ireland Statement and Commitment to Action in Disability Sport. This was in turn reflected in the Programme for Government.
The role has the potential to be transformational and the Disability in Sport Lead will work with National Government Bodies (NGBs), Local Sports Partnerships and other sporting bodies to develop and promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in sport.
Additionally, Sport Ireland allocates €1.2 million at local level to fund a national network of Sports Inclusion Disability Officers (SIDOs) aligned to each of the 29 Local Sports Partnerships in the country. The SIDOs work in a coordinating capacity with all relevant stakeholders to increase and sustain participation opportunities for all people with disabilities
Sport Ireland has allocated an additional €2.4 million for supporting disability sport focused NGBs to continue their work in this area. This investment will help ensure that anyone with a disability, at any level, grassroots and above, can avail of their absolute right to enjoy and reap the benefits of sport and physical activity.
183. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his Department’s plan to increase funding for the next round of the community sports facilities fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34987/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to 3,048 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF), benefitting over forty sports, as well as multi-sport facilities, throughout the country. This represents the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland.
In line with previous rounds of the programme, a review of the current funding round will be undertaken and that review will inform the timing of the next round of the CSFF. However, I would anticipate that the next round should be announced in 2026. The quantum of funding available will also be informed by the review of the National Development Plan which is underway.
185. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department plans to make the 1926 census of Ireland available to view publicly online; if so, the timeframe for publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34055/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Census 1926 returns, along with all censuses less than 100 years old, remain under the legal control of the Central Statistics Office. After 100 years, the census returns must be released for public inspection, in accordance with the Statistics Act, 1993. The National Archives is preparing the 1926 Census for public release in April 2026.
My Department is providing funding for the significant volume of work required to prepare the 1926 Census for online publication, involving cataloguing, conservation, digitisation and transcription of the data in the individual 1926 Census forms. The published census data will be linked to the digital images of the individual returns in which the data was recorded. This work is on track for completion in time for public release next year, on 18 April 2026.
I know that the release of the 1926 census is eagerly anticipated and will be of great benefit to anyone carrying out research on their Irish ancestry and family history. These historic records which will be freely available and easily accessible will be a rich source of information to all members of the public and broader diaspora.
186. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his views on the Programme for Government commitment to work with all sporting organisations to promote a ‘one club’ ethos, encompassing male and female participants and promoting equality of access to sporting facilities. [34820/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEquality, diversity and inclusion are a key focus for me in my role as Minister of State for Sport.
The Programme for Government commits to supporting the sporting ecosystem so more people can participate, reap the benefits of sport, and fulfil their potential from grassroots right up to high performance level. This will be achieved through a range of measures including continuing to support the funding of sports capital projects and assessing the distribution of funding to maximise participation in all sports at community and national level, as well as continuing to work with sporting organisations to promote equality of access to sporting facilities and to drive increased participation in sport.
Organisations applying to the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) must be open to new members and must not have any restrictions on who may join or obtain full membership. All CSFF applicants must agree that, from the date of the grant, they will not deny anybody access to any facility. In addition, the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) requires that recipients of LSSIF funding must accommodate the needs of women and men, on a similar basis, with respect to accessing the facilities.
In 2024, Sport Ireland published its Statement of Commitment and Action to Disability Inclusion in Sport. This policy will be a key driver of disability inclusion in the coming years and sets out key actions that my Department and Sport Ireland will pursue to ensure that everyone has equal access to sport. Increased funding secured for sport in Budget 2025 enabled Sport Ireland to appoint a Disability in Sport Lead in February of this year.
Increasing female participation in sport is a cornerstone of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 and the recently published Sports Action Plan 2024-2027. The Irish Sports Monitor report for 2023 noted that the gender gradient in sports participation had narrowed to 2.9 percentage points, dropping below 3% for the first time. Government will also continue to support the Women in Sport programme that is delivered by Sport Ireland.
187. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his views on the merit of introducing legislation that would require utility providers including phone, broadband and energy companies to put in place minimum standards of customer service including mandatory response timeframes, being contactable by email and ease of cancellation; the actions he has taken since taking office to engage with these companies on these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33610/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegarding providers of mobile (phone) and broadband services, there already exists a significant amount of legislation concerning minimum standards of customer service. Part 5 of the Communications Regulation and [2023] Digital Hub Development Agency (Amendment) Act 2023 (the 2023 Act) strengthens consumer rules in the handling of complaints and the resolution of disputes, which aim to ensure consumers have their complaints addressed promptly and effectively. In terms of the means of being contactable, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has requirements in place for providers including requirements for “First point of contact for complainants, including the channels of making complaints.” ComReg is currently reviewing its minimum requirements in light of legislative changes, such as the 2023 Act and practical experience. ComReg ran a consultation on this review which closed for submissions in May 2025. Regarding ease of cancellation, the European Union (Consumer Information, Cancellation and Other Rights) Regulations 2013 (SI No 484 of 2013) give consumers the right to cancel service contracts fourteen days after the conclusion of the contract.
Furthermore, part 11 of the European Union (Electronic Communications Code) Regulations 2022 (the Code Regulations) sets out the obligations for providers in relation to end-user rights, including requirements to provide consumers with contact details for the provider, information regarding complaints and information on contract duration and termination of same. Both the 2023 Act and the Code Regulations transpose the European Electronic Communications Code Directive. A review of this directive in underway by the European Commission and further consideration will be given to legislation safeguarding consumer rights as part of this review.
The energy sector is the responsibility of my colleague Darragh O’Brien, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment.
188. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the steps his Department is taking to resource community sports clubs, particularly regarding the provision of playing grounds and community multi-code sports pitches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34942/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSport and physical activity are hugely important to our collective well-being and health, so it is in our national interest to promote increased participation in sport and activity at all levels, locally and nationally.
Availability and ease of access to sports facilities, whether in a club setting, on public lands or in other amenity areas, is a key factor in drawing more people to participation in sport. Planning for future facilities’ needs, locations and types is a particular focus of our current Sports Action Plan.
However, the use to which lands are put is ultimately a matter for the relevant local authority and my Department does not fund the acquisition of land for sport. However, where land is in use for sport, my Department operates two relevant capital funding programmes, namely the Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). In 2024 over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to community sports clubs and facilities from the CSFF while grants totalling €173 million were awarded from the LSSIF. This is a an all-time record investment level in sport in Ireland.
Given the challenges of increased demand and a growing population, I consider that there is real merit in the development of municipally-backed shared facilities and I encourage sports' National Governing Bodies and local authorities to collaborate in this regard.
189. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on investment commitments for the upgrading of Dalymount Stadium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34886/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraA provisional grant of €918,750 was announced in January 2020 towards the overall design cost for the redevelopment of Dalymount Park under the first round of the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). This "stream 1" funding was for design costs only and, to date my Department has paid Dublin City Council Council €353,226 towards the design element of the project.
Under the 2024 LSSIF round, Dublin City Council successfully applied for funding to renovate the Dalymount Park stadium. This project will provide an entirely new UEFA Category 3 stadium and football pitch. The existing stadium will be demolished to create a brand new four-sided enclosed stadium and a re-orientated pitch on the north/south axis. A LSSIF grant of €24,700,000 has been provisionally awarded for this project.
As the Deputy is aware, all new public investment proposals must comply with the Infrastructure Guidelines published by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. My officials are currently carrying out assessment work required by the Infrastructure Guidelines and will continue to engage with the Dublin City Council project managers who are ultimately responsible for the delivery of the Dalymount Stadium project and the associated project timeline.
I look forward to seeing construction commencing on this project which will deliver both sporting infrastructure and urban revitalisation benefits for the communities of Phibsborough and beyond.
Under the second round of the LSSIF, grants totalling €173 million, benefiting 35 individual projects, were announced on 4 November 2024. The cumulative investment allocation from the LSSIF since 2020 now stands at €297 million.
190. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the implementation of the national swimming strategy; how he hopes it will address the shortage of pools and waiting lists for classes in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34976/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s first National Swimming Strategy sets out a vision to provide everyone in our country with an opportunity to swim. It includes an Action Plan containing over 50 actions across five thematic strands, focusing on providing improved facilities, increasing access for people with disabilities, improving the culture of inclusion, better coaching supports, increasing safety awareness and providing a pathway that allows for the nurturing and development of potential high performers.
The public consultation that informed the development of the National Swimming Strategy suggested that existing swimming pool stock is insufficient and, as a result, a key focus of the Strategy is on providing improved facilities. There is a specific action in the strategy to complete an in-depth analysis of swimming pool provision within Ireland with particular reference to identifying gaps in provision. Swim Ireland, the National Governing Body for swimming, is currently undertaking an analysis of the type and nature of swimming pool ownership in the country and will publish a report in this regard in the coming period.
This report will be central to the future development of swimming pool facilities. Capital support for new swimming pools, and the refurbishment of existing pools, continues to be provided by my Department through the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, which to date has allocated €28.9 million to 9 swimming pool projects.
The Strategy also endeavours to support additional opportunities for people to access lessons, to ensure optimal use of pool times for lessons and coaching, to address challenges in recruiting and retaining swimming instructors and to further embed the provision of aquatics and water safety as components of school curriculums.
In support of the Strategy, additional funding of €500,000 was provided to Swim Ireland in 2024 for the deployment of swimming activators to work within local authority areas, focusing on increasing participation amongst under-represented groups and improving coaching supports and facilities. This additional funding will also be provided in 2025 and 2026 – totalling €1.5 million over three years.
Responsibility for the delivery of the Strategy’s Action Plan is shared across Government Departments, State Agencies and other key stakeholders, including local authorities. Sport Ireland recently established an oversight group of key stakeholders to give leadership, policy direction, prioritisation and mobilisation of resources to support, monitor and measure the Strategy’s implementation.
191. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his views on the Programme for Government commitment to examine the introduction of youth culture pass; if there is any progress on its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34977/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs committed to in the Programme for Government I propose to examine the introduction of a youth Culture Card and its potential to enhance interest in the arts among young people. My Department has not yet commenced the formal engagement in the primary assessment of modalities, scope, and reach for a Youth Card scheme given other priorities in recent months. However, I am committed to ensuring that this work does commence in the coming period.
It is important to ensure that any initiative provides access opportunities for all young people and represents an effective and efficient use of resources. With advice from my Department, other relevant departments, the National Cultural Institutions, and stakeholders in the arts sector, The participation of young people is crucial to fostering creativity and advancing the arts throughout Ireland. The introduction of a Culture Card could contribute significantly to this goal.
Research regarding arts and cultural participation among children confirms the benefits to children when they engage in the arts in their early years, and also indicates that patterns of participation in the arts are set from a very young age. My Department already actively supports a range programmes and initiatives which create opportunities for all ranges of young people around the country to engage with the arts and culture with little or no further participation cost to the public which includes:-
Creative Ireland’s Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027 aims to embed creativity into the heart of children and young people’s lives. Through a cross-government partnership between this Department, the Department of Education, the Department of Children Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Affairs, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Arts Council, a combined inter-departmental budget allocation of over €10 million in 2025, including an allocation through the Government’s Shared Island initiative, will provide creative opportunities for 0-24 year olds. With a particular focus on ensuring access for children and young people that are seldom heard and at risk of disadvantage, programmes include Local Creative Youth Partnerships (LCYPs). There are currently LCYPs based in 7 Education and Training Boards across the country. They aim to provide out-of-school creative and cultural activities for young people by bringing together the whole local infrastructure. The target audience for all LCYP programmes are children and young people in local communities (within the ETB’s geographical remit) in ‘out of school’ settings with a particular focus on previously less served cohorts. An eighth LCYP will be established in 2025 following a recent call-out to the remaining ETBs.
Cruinniú na nÓg’s annual day of creativity for children and young people up to 18 years of age, took place on 7th June this year in collaboration with all 31 local authorities and 3 strategic partnerships, with all events free to attend, with over 1000 events took place across the island of Ireland.
The Creative Youth Nurture Fund awarded 9 projects over €700,000 in 2023, and this is running until 2025, to engage with specific cohorts of seldom heard children and young people in a creative experience in which their voice is central.
The Creative Youth on a Shared Island dimension of the Creative Ireland Programme, has allocate over €1 million for 2024-2025 supporting 6 projects to bring children and young people from across the island of Ireland, engaging in creative writing and storytelling, song-writing, parade, theatre and more.
Post-primary schools and Youthreach Centres engage in Creative Youth programmes such as Creative Schools, Creative Clusters, Creative Engagement and BLAST, bringing enhanced access to arts, culture and creativity in education.
In addition to the allocation above, the Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027 also supports, through funding from the Department of Education, Music Generation’s National Music Education Programme which has been allocated €6.9 million in 2025.
My Department also supports several programmes and initiatives through the National Cultural Institution. For example, the Department has provided funding to the National Cultural Institutions to digitise and archive a large amount of it content and collections, which is available online for all ages to view and study, and a lot of this material was developed and rolled out during COVID.
Furthermore, each of these organisations also have a range of programmes, events and resources for young people including both in-person and online events and resources.
My Department is also investing ambitiously in the audio-visual sector, all with a view to growing these sectors and providing new opportunities for younger people to participate in arts, culture and media activities. This group is also considered a key demographic for our work to stimulate the night-time economy. Access and exposure to the arts from an early age can establish a lifetime interest and a fulfilling appreciation and I will welcome all contributions to the considerations around the potential for a youth Culture Card.
