Yesterday, in the audiovisual room, we were joined by players from Shelbourne, Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers football teams as well as Claire Hunt from Positive Period Ireland. They spoke with passion about their journey and the obstacles they overcame to play in the League of Ireland. One player, Jemma Quinn, spoke of how girls in her primary school were not allowed to play football until herself and her friend fought for the right to play. With the World Cup coming up this summer, it is vital that we put in place the supports and the facilities that will allow women’s grassroots football to flourish and grow. What specific measures will the Government put in place to harness the goodwill that will follow Ireland’s World Cup appearances? I am asking for a specific response rather than something general and vague.

The Deputy made a good general point about making sure that there is absolute equality in the treatment of women and girls playing all sports. When he was Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Chambers took initiatives on that and the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, is going to address it through grant schemes and so on in the future. The participation in the World Cup by the Irish women’s soccer team is an opportunity and a watershed moment to encourage further participation among young girls and women in sport and particularly in soccer. We look forward to the World Cup with great anticipation.

What about facilities?

I am talking about facilities, yes. We had a record allocation of grants to sports clubs across the country last year. As the Deputy knows, one of the criteria is diversity and facilities for women and girls. It is a clear criterion in the grant scheme. We are also looking at the membership of boards which the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, had started and on which the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, is keen to focus. He knows the importance very well himself through personal experience and knows the need to advance this.