AQW 49154/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 25/09/2015
Answered On Date: 06/10/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure for an update on steps to achieve the Sport Matters commitment to ensure that 90 per cent of the population are within twenty minutes of quality accredited, multi sports facilities by 2019; and whether her Department is on course to meet this target.

Answer:

I can advise that the most recent annual Sport Matters progress report which was published in December 2014, indicated we were on track to achieve the target by 2019.

However, the recent mid-term review of Sport Matters Strategy has recommended that this target should be amended to change from a time bound to a distance based target.

In terms of future plans to further develop multi sports facilities, I can confirm that Sport NI launched a new Sports Facility Fund on 18 May 2015 totalling £17.5 million Lottery funding which will be available for sports facility projects over the next five years.

In addition, Sport NI is currently working with the 11 District Councils to develop a Facilities Strategy for the north of Ireland and 11 associated District Council Area Reports. The project is a partnership between Sport NI and the District Councils and involves engagement with a number of other key stakeholders, such as Government Departments, Governing Bodies for Sport, Education Authorities, Sports Clubs and Universities.