Vol. 482 No. 6
394 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if a sport science network has been set up in order to offer co-ordinated sports science and medical services to top players and athletes, as set out in the National Plan for Sport; and, if not, the reason for the delay in this regard. [18754/97]
405 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his Department has given sanction for a career counselling service for young people in sport, as recommended in the National Plan for Sport. [18765/97]
406 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his Department has established a medical support framework for a carding system, as outlined in the National Plan for Sport. [18766/97]
407 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation when he will introduce a carding and player support scheme, as outlined in the National Plan for Sport. [18767/97]
416 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the steps, if any, he has taken to develop support programmes for emerging young talent in sport, in order that they can have access to training camps and international events as well as financial support for their sporting activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18776/97]
418 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the steps, if any, he has taken to develop a career counselling service for young people; if so, if this is being done in co-operation with the National Coaching and Training Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18778/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 394, 405, 406, 407, 416 and 418 together.
Consideration is now under way in relation to a number of the areas related to supporting and developing the higher performance sector of Irish sport, including emerging young persons. These areas include scientific and medical support, career counselling service and the possibility of a carding scheme that might provide more structured and co-ordinated access in future to supports such as funding, training facilities, sports science and medical back-up as appropriate.
A players-athletes advisory group has also been established and had its inaugural meeting.
The National Coaching and Training Centre has begun developing links with agencies in the fields of exercise physiology, nutrition, psychology and sports medicine and will be feeding advice, along with the Sports Council, into the process before my proposals are finalised.
395 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if the athletes advisory group has been set up, as proposed in the National Plan for Sport; and the number of times this group meets in a year. [18755/97]
The player-athlete advisory group has been established and the inaugural meeting took place on Wednesday, 15 October 1997. It is proposed that the group will meet at least twice per year.
