AQO 327/22-27 Oral question to the Minister for Communities
To ask the Minister for Communities what financial support will be available for people from Northern Ireland competing in the Paralympic Games.
Asked by Connie Egan MLA on 11 April 2024
- Answered
- Oral
- Answered in the Chamber
- Tabled
- 11 April 2024
- Answer due by
- 23 April 2024
- Answered
- 23 April 202412 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Communities
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Answered in the Assembly Chamber on 23 April 2024. Extract from the Official Report (Hansard), including any supplementary questions:
Mr Lyons
I eagerly await the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris for the opportunity to watch athletes from Northern Ireland competing on the world stage. Northern Ireland has a number of noteworthy Paralympic athletes, including Claire Taggart, who is from my constituency, and James MacSorley. Both Paralympians have represented Team GB and NI at recent games.
Ms Egan
Thank you, Minister. I agree that we have absolutely fantastic Para athletes in Northern Ireland. I give a shout-out to Kelly Gallagher from my constituency, who was one of the first women on Team GB to win gold in Para alpine games. Minister, what plans do you and your Department have to ensure that people with disabilities can access sport across Northern Ireland?
Mr Lyons
I should have answered the Member's initial question fully by saying that £37,000 has been provided to individual Paralympic athletes through the athlete award programme and that, since 2020, Disability Sport Northern Ireland has received £663,502 from Sport NI. The Member asked what support we can give those who are disabled to take part in sport, which is of interest to me. I am pleased that we will soon bring forward a disability strategy that will have a sporting element, but, overall, I want to see more people taking part in sport, especially those who have been under-represented in the past, such as women and disabled people. I think that I have an invitation to meet people who are interested in the issue, and I am more than happy to meet them as we put together the disability strategy.
Ms Brownlee
I thank the Minister for his positive responses. Will he detail the practical support that will be provided for those athletes?
Mr Lyons
Yes. Sport NI offers its facilities at the Sports Institute in Jordanstown, in our constituency, which seeks to support national governing bodies by helping to improve individual athletes' sport performance through the provision of its science, medicine and support programmes. That includes performance management, performance skills, performance analysis, performance nutrition, strength and conditioning and sports medicine.
Madam Principal Deputy Speaker
Paula Bradshaw is not in her place.