RESEARCH ISC welcomes publication by CSO of Sport & Physical Exercise Module

For Immediate Release      December 14, 2007

THE IRISH SPORTS COUNCIL WELCOMES THE PUBLICATION BY THE CSO OF THE SPORT AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE MODULE FROM THE QUARTERLY NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY

The Irish Sports Council welcomes the publication by the Sport and Exercise Module of QNHS CSO which includes detailed information on participation in sport and of physical activity around Ireland. The sample survey of 40,000 provides a unique and detailed insight into participation with data on activity by age, gender, area and income and is a new benchmark.

The Council has played a significant role in working with the CSO to develop this module on sport and physical activity. The module complements the work being carried out under the Council’s own research programme, which, in a series of reports, has set out the key determinants in sports participation in Ireland. This new data will inform the development of policy and programmes aimed at increasing participation in sport. 

Ossie Kilkenny, Chairman of the Irish Sports Council commented: “As this module significantly adds to our knowledge on sports participation, we now need to digest it in its entirety, and work with the CSO to analyse in detail the responses and make comparisons with our existing data”.

International experience indicates that trends in rates of participation in sport tend to move slowly over time. The Council will continue with its efforts to monitor and measure participation over the coming years through the Irish Sports Monitor and other appropriate survey instruments. This will be vital for policy development in order to get an understanding of how the rates of activity may change over time.   

John Treacy, Chief Executive, Irish Sports Council commented: “This new data is an invaluable resource for the Council in developing policies and programmes aimed at increasing participation in sport in Ireland through our network of Sports Partnerships nationwide. It complements the excellent work already undertaken by the Council in collaboration with the ESRI which has aided our understanding of the trends and determinants of sports participation”.  

Further information from:
Sinead McElroy Irish Sports Council 01-8608800
Declan Lee  OHC   01-6602744