Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 4

Written Answers. - Olympic Council Allocation.

Noel Ahern

Question:

166 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Education the total amount of resources allocated to the Olympic Council of Ireland in each of the past three years; whether the resources granted are earmarked for particular sports or whether this decision is made by the Olympic Council of Ireland; whether all resources to the sporting bodies covered by the Olympic Council of Ireland is paid through them or whether some administrative grants are paid direct by her Department to individual sports; whether full details of expenditure is advised to her Department by the Olympic Council of Ireland; whether her Department acts as arbitrator for any sport which is unhappy with its allocation from the Olympic Council of Ireland; and whether she will make a statement on the matter with particular reference to the future distribution of Department funds. [19021/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 139 of 10 October 1996 which gives details of funding to the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) over the last three years.

My Department does not specifically designate the level of funding to be expended on an olympic sport. The funds allocated to the OCI are to assist the Irish team with their preparation for and participation in the Olympic Games and to meet the cost of international competition/ programmes of its affiliated sporting organisations.

Annual grants are also allocated by my Department to those national governing bodies of sport recognised by the Irish Sports Council and my Department, including those which are affiliated to the OCI. Details of grant allocations are published in my Department's annual report Sport in Ireland. Details of expenditure by the OCI are shown in the annual audited accounts which are forwarded to my Department by the OCI.

It would not be normal practice for my Department to interfere in the internal affairs of sports organisations. However, the working group established to prepare a national strategy for sport in Ireland is carrying out a wide-ranging and detailed review of all aspects of sport, including the funding of sports organisations. The group is due to complete its work later this year and the matter of future funding will be considered in the light of the group's report.