To ask the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, pursuant to AQW 49151/11-16, whether her Department offers financial support to local clubs who wish to provide volunteers with qualifications, training and skills development opportunities; and to detail the steps she is taking towards other recommendations of the mid-term review of Sport Matters.

I can advise that in the last three financial years up to March 2015, Sport NI, an arms length body of my Department, has invested a total of £1,604,214 through its Active Awards for Sport Programme. It is not possible to exactly quantify the breakdown of the elements of this funding that went to volunteer support and other sports development opportunities. However, this investment will have contributed to local clubs who wish to provide volunteers with qualifications, training and skills development opportunities.

I can advise that Sport NI has developed an Action Plan to take forward the recommendations emerging from the mid-term review of Sport Matters. The draft Action Plan is due to be submitted in December to the Sports Matters Monitoring Group, which I lead, following consultation with stakeholders within the Sports Matters Implementation Groups.

It is anticipated that the Action Plan will be agreed and published by the end of this year.