To ask the Minister for Communities whether his Department has issued any guidance to sporting organisations on managing situations involving separated parents, including circumstances where a civil order is in place against one or both individuals.

My Department has not issued any guidance to sporting organisations on this topic.

This issue is an operational matter for Sport NI, they have advised me as follows:

“Sport NI has not issued any guidance to sporting organisations on managing situations involving separated parents and are not aware of any guidance on this issue.

Sport NI work in partnership with the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) to provide a safeguarding advisory and guidance service for the sector. Sport NI contacted CPSU to query guidance on this topic and were advised, the NSPCC do not currently issue any such guidance.

However, CPSU informed Sport NI that members of the Safeguarding in Sport Strategic Group (SSSG) met with the Minister of Finance to raise this as DoF manage civil courts where these orders are given.

Sport NI were informed that a similar meeting with the Minister of Health has been requested, as DoH manage the staff who will make recommendations to the courts.”