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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 May 1986

Vol. 367 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Lottery.

15.

asked the Minister for Education if any of the expected funds from the National Lottery will be applied to funding a national institute for sport to encourage and develop excellence in sport.

, Dún Laoghaire): The question of funding from the proposed National Lottery being made available for the provision of a national institute for sport will be a matter for consideration by the Government at the appropriate time.

Has the Minister any idea of the income the Department expect to be available from the National Lottery for use in sport and, perhaps, to be applied in the creation of a national institute for sport similar to the system that operates in Australia? I am sure the Minister saw that system in operation when he was in that country.

(Dún Laoghaire): The Government have indicated that the lottery proceeds will be divided among the areas of sport or recreation, arts and culture, including the Irish language and health. While a decision in regard to the precise division of the proceeds has not yet been taken, I can assure the Deputy that I will be endeavouring to ensure that the needs of sport are fully taken into consideration. I join with the Deputy in recognising the benefit that can be got from an institute of sport. I had occasion recently to visit Thomond College, where physical education teachers are trained, and I was delighted to see the forward thinking among the staff and the directors. They recognise that the facilities they have could be used off-season to help develop young athletes and for coaching. The college has appointed a special teacher to promote the facilities of the college for use by people in the area. That is a step forward and I hope other institutes and sporting organisations will avail of those facilities.

In view of the fact that the Minister for Finance indicated to me that the National Lottery will be under way soon, will the Minister of State agree that, among the range of matters he will be considering, will be the creation of an institute for sport to encourage excellence in sport?

(Dún Laoghaire): The committee which is investigating the possibility of establishing a national sports centre will be taking into consideration all the facilities that are available throughout the country. I hope that, following the detailed information they have gathered over the past number of months, we will be in a position to produce a plan for the future on the type of facilities which are needed. The sooner all of us recognise the value to be got from sport and physical recreation for the good of the community the better. I support the Deputy in his efforts and I hope he will support me in my efforts to see to it that we develop those facilities. I see no objections to having an institute of sport.

I am not going to have a general discussion on this.

Can I ask one question?

Is the Minister of State aware that the funding for the National Lottery in the main will come out of the pockets of the poor? Is he happy that the advantaged will be supported in these new facilities by money from the disadvantaged? Would he look at that before he makes any decision?

(Dún Laoghaire): I hope there will be no compulsion on anyone to take part in the National Lottery and that those who want to take part will recognise that the proceeds will be used for the benefit of the whole community. I would not like to think that whatever facilities will be provided from the proceeds of the National Lottery will be used solely for the purposes of one small section of our community. I sincerely hope that all of the facilities will be made available to all of the people irrespective of where they come from, or their financial standing. I recognise the tremendous advantage to the country of our having a proper sport and physical recreation policy. The benefits to be gained by having such a policy will be savings in terms of health bills, prison places and crime and vandalism. I assure Deputy Skelly that any moneys which will be used from the National Lottery will be used for the benefit of all the Irish people and not just for one small section.

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