Dublin Central TD Neasa Hourigan has called for the barriers that prevent women from taking part in sport to be broken down.
Speaking in the Dáil, the Green Party TD acknowledged that while there have been improvements in women’s sport in Ireland in recent times, more needs to be done to ensure women keep taking part in sport.
“There is a complexity as to why girls drop out of sport and the barriers they face, including that provision for them is sometimes peripheral when it comes to the provision of pitches and other infrastructure.”
“Some research has shown that issues like safety, transport and feeling safe travelling to sports facilities can act as a barrier to participation.”
“The research also finds that there is a social stigma to remaining involved in sports,” she added.
Aside from the sociological aspects that prevent women from participating in sports, Hourigan noted that funding also plays a part.
“As somebody who represents an area with a number of communities in which a lot of households are on low incomes and there are areas of deprivation, we look to sports facilities and sports clubs to help achieve social cohesion.”
“Increasingly, we are seeing the benefits of sports participation for mental health and in creating a sense of belonging. That is just as real for women and girls as it is for boys and men. I particularly like to see championing of women who have been successful in sport. I recommend to the Department that it continue to champion the very successful women we saw in the Olympic Games and in other sporting events.”
“They have done so well and can act as positive role models for women and girls in communities like mine by helping them to see sport as something they can do their whole life and as a real profession,” she added.
In a separate Dáil debate on sports funding, Hourigan said “although we have Croke Park in my area, we do not actually have a great many GAA clubs.”
“That is why areas like Cabra, for example, have Naomh Fionnbarra, which is literally the centre of our community. It runs festivals. It is the place where the community gathers and it is so important to us. It might be useful to speak to how impactful that is when making some of these decisions. We also have a number of very important boxing clubs and football clubs, which have an outsized importance in our community. I refer to the like of Bohemians, Sheriff Youth Club and Dingle United, which really struggle, do not necessarily have community-based supports and resources and really need the backup of the Department.”
Minister of State Thomas Byrne said that Hourigan’s question was “important”, and said that while this government has provided funding for more women in sport, he admitted that more can be done.
He noted that the Women in Sport funding mechanism was established in 2005, and has received €30 million in funding since its inception, with an additional €4 million in funding announced earlier this year.
“Narrowing the gender participation gap is a priority for the Department, Minister Catherine Martin and me,” he said.
Byrne noted that there is a “mismatch” between the demand for large-scale sporting projects and the funding available.
“The demand is €660 million. The funding available is approximately €120 million. We are going to have to examine that carefully. They are being assessed at the moment,” he said.
On the issue of women’s participation in sports, he cited the Irish Sports Monitor report for 2023 which showed 46% of women participate in sports, an all-time high.
The report further noted that the gender participation gap is now at just under 3%.
“The day is over of women playing a soccer match at 7 p.m. on a Sunday while the men get the 3 p.m. game- the government will not fund that,” the Fianna Fáil TD said.
“Women must have similar access; it is a matter for the organisations to put their policies in place.”