Helen Keogh
Question:108 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Education her views on sport in relation to people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10876/97]
Written Answers. - Sporting Facilities for Disabled.
Helen Keogh
Question:109 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Education the sports facilities, if any, specifically for people with disabilities, which are available in Ireland; the sources of funding which are available for providing sporting facilities to people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10877/97]
Helen Keogh
Question:110 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Education the national plan, if any, there is to develop sport as a therapeutic and development activity, including physiotherapy and the psychology of sport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10878/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 109 and 110 together.
My Department recognises that sport plays an important part in the lives of people with a disability whether as participants or as spectators. It is fully committed to integrating these people in sporting activities and to breaking down barriers to participation in such activities.
The sports strategy group's report, Targeting Sporting Change in Ireland, addressed the question of sport and people with a disability. A special committee of the Irish Sports Council is being established to develop the action plan as set out in the strategy report.
My Department provides annual funding to sports organisations catering for people with a disability for the promotion and development of sport within their organisations.
As regards sports facilities my Department provides funding under the Sports Capital Programme to voluntary community organisations. It is open to any group, including groups representing people with disabilities, to apply for funding under the programme.
Arising from the sports strategy report a national inventory on sports facilities will be undertaken. The code of practice for safety at sports grounds published in 1996 set out guidelines for facilitating spectators with disabilities.
The National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick, which is grant aided by my Department, provides access to medical, sports psychology, and physiological testing for athletes including those with a disability. There is also special provision in the National Coaching Development Programme for the development of coaching of athletes with a disability.
Helen Keogh
Question:111 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Education the support, if any, the Government has given to international and national events such as the Paralympics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10879/97]
I take it that the Deputy is referring to financial support provided by my Department for sporting events to people with disabilities.
My Department allocated a grant of £165,000 to the Irish Paralympic Council towards the preparation and participation of the Irish team in the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta. Grant aid is also provided on an annual basis to organisations catering for people with disabilities, and the level of funding provided in 1996 to these organisations is set out below. The Government is also supporting Special Olympics Ireland in its bid to host Special Olympics 2003 in Ireland.
Details of grant aid allocated for the years prior to 1996 may be found in the relevant annual report Sport in Ireland published by my Department.
|
£ |
|
|
Irish Wheelchair Association |
107,340 |
|
Irish Blindsports Association |
14,686 |
|
Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland |
11,620 |
|
Special Olympics Ireland |
66,480 |
|
Irish Deaf Sports Association |
15,500 |