Research shows significant gender disparity in para sport
The study shows that girls begin para sports nearly a decade later than boys.
The report also identifies a number of obstacles when it comes to participation, with cost, lack of facilities and other infrastructural absences making it more difficult for those with a physical or visual impairment to access sporting activities.
The research is a collaboration between Paralympics Ireland and the University of Limerick. It is being launched at an event at UL this afternoon, by Minister for Disabilities Hildegarde Naughton.
'Athlete and Coach Experiences of Para Sport Gateways and Pathways in Ireland' has been billed as a pivotal moment in the campaign to build a more inclusive, responsive and sustainable para sport infrastructure.
The research takes in the views and experiences of around 150 athletes.
It shows that girls with congenital disabilities, on average, engage in sport for the first time when they are over 21, compared with an age of 12 and half for boys.
Those with acquired disabilities report more barriers than those with congenital disabilities, and impediments in terms of coaching and facilities are a constant bugbear.
As well as identifying the challenges faced when it comes to access and participation, the authors say they have also provided a blueprint for further development.
The study says this will require collaboration and structured approaches among local sports groups, those working in the disability sector, and governing bodies at a national level.
It calls for increased funding, particularly away from large urban centres, to ensure coaching, equipment and facilities are made available to encourage greater take up of para sports.
The report says involvement in para sport has an overwhelmingly positive impact on the lives of those involved, improving physical and mental health, promoting personal independence and helping to broaden horizons and provide connections to others living with a disability.
One of its authors, Dr Séan Healy, said the findings provided a "clear roadmap for making sport more inclusive, equitable, and impactful for people with disabilities."
Minister Naughton said she was committed to ensuring that the report would be used to encourage greater participation, citing the multiple benefits this would bring to people with disabilities all over the country.
She described the study as a critical part of an effort to break down barriers.
Chief Operating Officer Paralympics Ireland Neasa Russell said that anecdotally it was known that there had "definitely been a drop off" since the pandemic of participation by people with a disability "accessing and developing sport."
She said that just one-third of people with disabilites "regularly partake" in sport, compared with 50% of those without disabilities.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, she said that we know that Covid had a profound impact on people's ability to access sport, "and unfortunately at the moment, people with disabilities are twice as likely to be sedentary.
"When we stand back and look at that from a Paralympic Ireland, para-sport and Team Ireland perspective, we're looking at where is our next generation of athletes coming from.
"But more importantly, where are our role models, and how are we really benefitting the disability community by making sure that there is enough access and entry points and awareness of those for the disability community itself," she said.
Ms Russell said the research uncovered that at the first stage of participation quite a stark difference between when males would typically "get into para-sport, which is around age 12, but for females it's actually age 21."
She said it found that the "signposting" to para sport from family and friends is "quite different."
"So actually about 20% of males would have been signposted to para-sport through their friends and family, yet only 2% of females.
"Similarly in school ... 25% of male athletes would be signposted to para-sport, only 9% of females."
Ms Russell said the figures for signposting from medical and heathcare professionals was 35% for males and 11% for females.
"We definitely have a little bit more work to do to understand what's going on here, and indeed start to rectify it," she said.
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