News analysis

Sporting boards to have at least 40% women by 2023

by Stephen Conmy

The Irish government has set a target of 40% female representation on the boards of sporting organisations by the end of 2023.

“Equality in sport is so important,” said Ireland’s Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport Jack Chambers.

“If you go down to any local grassroots club now, you’re seeing huge numbers of girls and women participating at club level, and we must see that reflected at a leadership level when it comes to all sporting organisations. That’s why there will be this new target and deadline at the end of 2023 of 40% women on the boards of sporting organisations.”

More investment

The Government of Ireland will also invest €220 million in sport by 2027 and aims to ensure that 60% of the population are participating in sport or physical activity.

Other key headlines in the policy include:

  • The implementation of a ‘sport for all’ approach to tackle barriers to participation and establish an inclusion, diversity and equality fund 
  • An annual sports clubs recovery program and a fund for disability sport to encourage the recovery of membership and participation

A national database

  • Creating a national database of recreational and sports facilities that will make essential information on sporting facilities widely accessible
  • The creation of a new youth forum on sport that will allow young people to contribute to the development and implementation of programmes to encourage lifelong involvement in sport

“We know that too many young people are dropping out of sport during their adolescence, particularly young girls, and we need to stop and reverse that worrying trend,” said Minister Chambers. 

The Sports Action Plan is available here.

Tags
Diversity
Equality
Inclusion
sporting boards