Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 November 2025
69. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the measures his Department is taking to increase youth participation in sport, particularly in disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64110/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is committed to a "Sport for All" approach aimed at ensuring that all persons can partake equally in sport and physical activity regardless of gender, age, disability, or socio-economic status, or membership of any minority group.
Sport Ireland's network of Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) plays a crucial role in implementing the National Sports Policy and increasing participation levels in sport and physical activity particularly in underrepresented groups. The LSPs deliver targeted programmes to range of cohorts including young persons, the unemployed and those living in disadvantaged communities.
In 2025, the LSP network received €11,945,000 in core funding and this was supplemented by additional investment from other funding streams, including Dormant Accounts Funding (DAF) and the European Social Fund (ESF+) Programme.
Through DAF, LSPs can connect national funding priorities with local community needs, ensuring funding reaches the groups, clubs and people that need it most. Funding totaling €1.32 million was allocated in 2025 to support 29 existing Community Sports and Physical Activity Hubs along with funding of four new Hubs. Led by LSPs, the Hubs will promote local engagement in sport and physical activity to assist disadvantaged areas. An additional €280,000 will go to the Urban Outdoor Adventure Initiatives, a fund that aims to provide outdoor adventure sports opportunities for disadvantaged communities and at-risk youth.
Sport Ireland has successfully applied to the European Social Fund (ESF+) Programme 2021-2027 and has been awarded €11 million for implementation of a social innovation and inclusion programme over the lifetime of the Programme. The ESF+ funding has enabled Sport Ireland to establish the Sport4Empowerment (S4E) Programme which aims to use sport and physical activity as tool for social inclusion and empowerment. S4E targets four population cohorts, including youth at risk and persons from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Programme will see the phased employment of ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officers in each of the 29 LSPs. The Officers will be responsible for the piloting and implementation of range of new targeted programmes which aim to enhance the wellbeing, education, and economic prospects of participants.
