Vol. 487 No. 1
31 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the resources, if any, he has made available to allow national governing bodies to prepare their strategic plans, as set out in the National Plan for Sport published in February 1997. [3426/98]
32 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the resources, if any, he has made available to allow national governing bodies to prepare their strategic plans, as set out in the National Plan for Sport published in February 1997. [3428/98]
40 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the resources, if any, he has made available to allow national governing bodies to prepare their strategic plans, as set out in the National Plan for Sport published in February 1997. [3437/98]
62 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the resources, if any, he has made available to allow national governing bodies to prepare their strategic plans, as set out in the National Plan for Sport published in February 1997. [3432/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31, 32, 40 and 62 together.
A central element in my Department's policy for sport is to encourage national governing bodies to strengthen their organisational capacity and structures, to improve their management and administrative systems, to raise standards in coaching and competition and to increase participation in their sports. An essential component of this policy is the development of strategic planning within the organisations concerned.
Towards this end, I provided additional funding to a number of organisations in 1997 towards the purchase of IT equipment. I also made special funding available to selected governing bodies to enable them to introduce improvments in their management, administration, coaching and in participation levels.
In 1998 I have introduced a new application format for annual funding which places a strong emphasis on strategic planning on the part of the national governing bodies. An information seminar has already been provided for the organisations and a series of joint planning meetings will be held over the coming months between the governing bodies and the Irish Sports Council which will focus on the strategic development of the various sports.
I intend that the concept of strategic planning and performance measurement will be a feature of future funding and of the development of sport in Ireland.
