£833k invested in cricket

DUP MLA Peter Weir asked the Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín what plans her Department has to increase participation in cricket.

She stated: “Responsibility for increasing participation in cricket rests, in the first instance, with the governing body for the sport, Cricket Ireland.

“Having said that, my Department’s strategy for sport, Sport Matters, identifies a number of high level targets aimed at increasing participation rates in sport generally, including cricket.

“To help achieve these targets, Sport NI has invested a total of £833,212 in exchequer and lottery funding over the last three financial years, up to March 2012 to assist with the development of the sport and increase participation rates.

“In addition, Sport NI through its Active Communities Programme has appointed four Active Communities Coaches to provide opportunities for people to participate in cricket across a number of areas in the north of Ireland.”