Vol. 365 No. 8
asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on the siting of the national sports centre; the funding which will be provided in the first year of operation of the sports centre; and the time span he will allow for the completion of the national sports centre.
25.
asked the Minister for Education if he has received a submission from Thomond College, Limerick, in relation to the proposed national sports centre; if he is aware of the advantages of Limerick for this centre as set out in the submission; and when a decision is likely to be made on the matter.
Dún Laoghaire): I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 25 together. The committee established to examine the requirements of a national sports centre have received a submission from Thomond College of Education. The committee have examined the submission, have visited Thomond College and have met with the college authorities. On receipt and examination of the committee's report, a decision will be taken. As I do not wish to pre-empt the findings of the committee on this matter I regret that I am unable to give any more detailed information to the Deputy.
The question of the funding and time-span of the operation will be a matter for Government decision.
When I set down this question earlier in the year I asked the Minister of State to consider the Howth-Baldoyle area for the siting of this complex. The reason I asked the Minister of State to do so was that water sports could be included in such a centre. Has the Minister of State made any progress on that? Could I also ask the Minister of State how committed the Government are to investing money in sport? The contracts appear to be very slow in moving. Could I ask the Minister to comment on the fact that the Government are not doing enough to invest money in sport?
(Dún Laoghaire): The details of investment in sport is a separate question but I can say that sport cannot get enough money provided it is spent in the right direction and used wisely. The same applies to the location of a sports centre or centres. It would be wise of us to wait for the committee's report. The broad outlines of the brief given to this committee are the possible locations, area required for indoor and outdoor sport facilities, multi-purpose and otherwise, to be provided over five year and ten year spans on a priority basis and the estimate of costings. The committee have been working extremely hard. Many requests and submissions have come in asking that the centre be located in one place or the other. Naturally, everybody wants facilities for his own area. That is quite understandable.
I would hope, when the decision is taken having examined the committee's report, that we will be seen to locate it in the right place or, again depending on the committee's report, we will see what type of facilities should be located in one area or should be spread over a number of areas depending on the suitability of the facilities available in other areas. I would hope that the national lottery would be a means of funding sport on a proper basis with a regular income so that one could plan well in advance. I look forward to being able to participate in that.
It seems to be a case that many will be called upon but only one will be chosen. Could I ask the Minister of State how many applications have been made for consideration for the siting of a sports centre in their area? Could I also ask the Minister of State the approximate timescale for the committee's decision, the submission of that decision to the Government and the Government's decision on same?
(Dún Laoghaire): I hope that the committee will be in a position to submit their report by approximately the end of May.
Their report to Government?
(Dún Laoghaire): Their report to me. When the report is submitted a decision will then have to be taken, depending on what is in it. We must give the committee an opportunity to work on this. They have worked extremely hard. They received oral submissions from a number of sporting organisations, approximately 15 so far. They visited up to ten areas looking at different facilities and they met different individuals. I and my colleagues have been visited on many occasions by many Deputies in this House all stating the reason why the national sports centre should be located in their area. A decision such as this has to be taken seriously. At this stage I would not like to pre-empt the findings of the committee.
I want to ask——
I am moving to the next question.
I want to ask the Minister if he would confirm that one of the ten centres visited by the committee was Athlone and that Athlone therefore is in contention and consideration for this sports centre.
(Dún Laoghaire): I confirm that the committee visited Athlone on 27 March 1986. They met representatives of Athlone UDC and Westmeath County Council.
