Vol. 498 No. 5
198 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Ireland is entering a team in the European ice hockey championships for the first time; and the funding, if any, he will offer to support this endeavour. [27943/98]
Grants are made by my Department to recognised national governing bodies of sport to assist with overall administration costs including, where appropriate, the costs of participation in international events. Funding is not granted to individual clubs or specific events, although I understand that a representative of the Irish Ice Hockey Association contacted my Department in recent weeks regarding the question of future recognition for funding purposes. Criteria for recognition purposes are currently being revised by the Irish Sports Council, soon to be put on a statutory basis under legislative proposals currently before the Oireachtas and it has been suggested to the association that they might consider preparing a submission to the council in this context.
