Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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581. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the steps he is taking to ensure that an organisation (details supplied) and its clubs are sustainable. [10187/20]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I am acutely aware of the difficulties and challenges facing sporting organisations and clubs, including the League of Ireland. A COVID-19 Sports Monitoring Group, chaired at Ministerial level, has been established to engage directly with the sporting bodies. Four meetings of this Group have been held to date. The Football Association of Ireland has participated in all of these meetings. A further meeting is planned for today, the 9th of June. Sport Ireland is also directly engaging with the sporting bodies on an ongoing basis in relation to the development of protocols to facilitate a safe return to training and competition.

This extensive engagement with the sport sector has highlighted the significant, adverse impact of COVID-19 and the importance of implementing an appropriate and focused response to the challenges facing all strands of the sector, ranging from the local sporting organisations and clubs to the National Governing Bodies and national leagues and competitions such as those involving League of Ireland clubs. It is accordingly intended to develop a Sport Recovery Action Plan, in consultation with the sector, aimed at minimising the impacts and preparing the sector to restart activity, as part of the national recovery and renewal.

I was pleased to see the resumption of training by four League of Ireland clubs yesterday following the Government's decision last Friday to permit a limited return to training for elite athletes and teams. I understand it has been very difficult for all the players and coaching staff since the League of Ireland fixtures were suspended on 12 March. I am hopeful that we will see a return to competitive matches behind closed doors next month followed by the full resumption of the 2020 season later in the year.