Question Time: Culture, Arts and Leisure 25 March 2014
Megan Fearon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and
Leisure, Caral Ni Chuilin, what efforts her Department and SportNI are
employing to promote greater participation in sport for girls and women during
today’s Question
Time. The Minister that women are “significantly underrepresented” in sport
but highlighted the Sports Matters
Action Plan that has been put in place to meet the DCAL target of
increasing female participation in sport by 6% before 2019. The 2012-2013
continuous household survey revealed that female participation in sport is at
41% - an increase of 16% and evidence that the strategy has started well. Ms Ni
Chuilin also agreed with Michelle McIlveen that there are not enough women
board members of sports governing bodies in Northern Ireland – an issue she
will continue to monitor through the Sports
Monitoring Implementation Group.
In response to a question from Maeve McLaughlin, the
Minister highlighted the work of her Department in promoting mental health
initiatives. Projects include the IFA
Health Programme, Sport NI’s ‘Minding Your Head’ programme and similar work
through Libraries NI and the Arts Council. £30,000 has also been made available
for a pilot project to launch suicide awareness programmes through sports
clubs.
The highlight of Question Time was undoubtedly David
McNarry’s supplementary question to his enquiry about the Minister’s plans to
promote poetry, which was delivered in rhyme (view the Member’s lyrical
contribution at 14m08s). Ms Ni Chuilin also provided updates on the Gaeltacht
Bursary Scheme, the Salto Gymnastic Club and fish stocks in Lough Neagh.
During topical questions the Minister was keen to refute
reports in a recent newspaper article that funds that had been earmarked for
boxing clubs had been used to fund GAA projects. She reiterated her desire to
see boxing clubs receive the funding they need and deserve, describing the
current state of facilities as “disgraceful”.
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