To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) whether any assessment has been made of the potential impact of rising commercial rents on access to grassroots sport, including for people with disabilities; and (ii) any steps he is taking to ensure that inclusive sporting opportunities are protected.

Neither my Department nor Sport NI is aware of any assessment having been undertaken on the potential impact of rising commercial rents on access to grassroots sport, including for people with disabilities. Commercial rent levels are a matter for landlords and individual clubs or organisations and are not within the remit of my Department.

However, I will continue to support grassroots participation and inclusive sporting opportunities through a range of funding programmes and partnership working. This will be delivered in line with the priorities and objectives of the Active Living Strategy, including targeted support for underrepresented groups and people with disabilities.

Public investment remains an important means of supporting disability and inclusive sport. Through Exchequer and National Lottery funding, my Department and Sport NI provide core and targeted support for inclusive participation.

The Chief Executive of Sport NI, the Department’s delivery partner with responsibility for advancing inclusive sporting opportunities under the Active Living Strategy, has advised:

“Sport NI are not aware of rising commercial rents impact on access to grassroots sports.

Sport NI will continue to fund inclusive sporting opportunities via future funding programmes, and through annual funding to Disability Sport NI (DSNI) and Special Olympics Ulster.

Over the three-year period from 2023/24 to 2025/26 DSNI received total funding of £2,453,198 through a combination of Exchequer (£1,463,400) and National Lottery investment (£989,978). National Lottery funding to DSNI supports Boccia and Wheelchair Basketball and includes athlete awards.

During the same period, Special Olympics received £2,037,540 in Exchequer funding. This funding supports the delivery of year-round sporting and competition opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

In addition, from 2024/25 to 2025/26 Sport NI have provided a total of £50,000 in funding specifically for disability/inclusive sport projects through the Creating Opportunities Programme.”