asked the Minister for Education if his Department will consider giving a grant towards the cost of a trip to Spain at Easter of the Fethard all-Ireland champion volley ball teams both senior and cadets.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Volley Ball Team Grant.
44.
The funds to aid voluntary sports organisations are channelled through the national governing bodies of the various activities and not through individual clubs. Accordingly, my Department would not consider a request for assistance towards the cost of the Fethard all-Ireland champion volley Ball teams' trip to Spain.
Has he informed the schools of this?
I take it that the club have been so informed. I cannot say so categorically.
Would the Minister not consider the special circumstances in which a small village like this produces two such tremendous teams? Would he not make an exception in this case?
I can assure the Deputy that I have a very high regard for the sport of volley ball but I think there would be difficulty as regards giving individual grants to individual clubs for individual trips to any part of the world.
But there can only be one all-Ireland champion team and while the Minister has particular regard for volley ball, I have it for both volley ball and for Fethard.
Would the Deputy like me to relieve him of his responsibility?
(Interruptions.)
And the Chair has given the Deputy a lot of latitude.
The Chair has a deep interest in this also.
I have given the Deputy a good deal of latitude but he must not involve the Chair.
(Interruptions.)
It is not latitude I am looking for; it is money.
I am sorry. It is not possible to do this because it would be setting a precedent that we would have to follow in the case of every other place in the country.
Question No. 45.