To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any steps being taken to promote gender equality in sports officiating, including specific initiatives to encourage and support women to pursue careers as referees, following the recent achievement of the first female referee officiating a NIFL Premiership match.

This issue is an operational matter for Sport NI.

I have sought the requested information from the Chief Executive, who has provided me with a response.

Due to the volume of information to be provided I have arranged for the detail to be placed in the Assembly Library.

For any future queries relating to operational matters, you may wish to contact Sport NI directly. Making direct contact with the ALB will ensure that you receive the information in the shortest possible timeframe and make best use of public resources.