The sport of athletics is experiencing many challenges, including retaining current members, attracting new members, ensuring that the linkage between school and adult athletics provides a continuum of involvement for athletes and in competing with other sports for commercial and corporate support. With a view to increasing participation in athletics and maintaining its popularity in Irish sport, it is my intention to streamline the administration of athletics and reach a position for the year 2001 where it will be possible to fund one administrative structure, which will become a stronger and more robust focus for the development of athletics.
As a first step in this process, I have requested BLE, the National Athletic and Cultural Association of Ireland and the Irish Schools Athletic Association to submit a joint proposal for funding in respect of organisational development, international competition and training and the hosting of international events for 1999. To facilitate the athletic bodies in this process, I have asked the director of the National Coaching and Training Centre to assist them.
I understand some progress has been made in advancing this process and I look forward to receiving an agreed proposal in the near future. As soon as an agreed proposal is received, it will be considered by the Irish Sports Council. I assure the Deputy there will be no delay on my part, on receipt of the council's recommendation, in approving the funding allocation.