asked the Minister for Finance whether he will consider the question of restoring the annual grant of £25,000 payable for the training of our athletes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Restoration of Athletes Grant.
The Deputy is under a misapprehension in implying that an annual grant of £25,000 was at any time payable for the training of athletes. There was no annual grant for such purpose. The Deputy probably has in mind the sum of £25,000, included in the Estimates for 1948-49, to pay a grant towards the cost of providing athletic grounds in the vicinity of Dublin. Following the change of Government in February, 1948, that Estimate was not moved and no payment was made.
As the cost of meeting existing services and commitments greatly exceeds the revenue available to finance such services and commitments, I could not undertake, at the present time, to consider making available from the Exchequer an annual grant of £25,000 for the training of athletes.
Will the Irish Press write that up to-morrow?