Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Irish Sports Council.

Mr. Flanagan:

A Cheann Comhairle, I am grateful for the opportunity to address briefly a matter of importance, a request on behalf of the people of County Laois that the new offices of the national sports council be sited in the county. The House will be aware the Bill setting up the new council is at its concluding stages in the Seanad and I expect it will become law very shortly.

In November 1998 Laois County Council, on foot of a motion proposed by my colleague, Deputy John Maloney, and seconded by me, requested that consideration be given by the Department of Tourism Sport and Recreation to the location of the Irish Sports Council headquarters at Portlaoise. There are a number of reasons for putting forward this proposal, not least that County Laois is the only county with a recreation, leisure and sports forum that is up and running. The forum has unanimously agreed and supported this proposal, which also has the support of Portlaoise Town Commission.

It is particularly important that full consideration for the siting of this centre be given to the town of Portlaoise, having regard to the role played by Laois County Council and the Laois Recreation, Leisure and Sports Forum in developing a unique and far-seeing concept for leisure, recreation and sport in the midlands.

I understand from the council that, in accordance with the legislation, the new building should be purpose built and redesigned to accommodate a state of the art training centre and a room for seminars and conferences, should have the potential for sport psychology labs, be able to accommodate the staff, have an information centre, library service, Government publication service, adequate car parking, a green area with potential for landscape, a restaurant area and a changing area. In the context of the ever-increasing gridlock in Dublin and the east coast, I make this application to the House and to the Minister.

Some issues of serious concern on the east coast do not arise in Portlaoise. I refer to the absence of parking restrictions and traffic congestion in Portlaoise, it is very accessible, there is no curtailment on future expansion and there are many green areas. It appears contrary to Government policy to introduce a further concentration of activities in city centre areas, thereby giving rise to greater traffic congestion, while adequate facilities are available within an hour's drive or a 50 minute rail journey from the city.

Having regard to the role of modern technology, Portlaoise is most suitable for a development of this significance. Our advantage as a midland county is that Laois is unique in that it is the only county in the country that has established a recreation, leisure and sports forum. It is ideally located in terms of centrality and accessibility. Portlaoise is the second fastest growing urban area in the State in terms of towns with a population of between 5,000 and 30,000. The dynamic growth of the town is reflected in the age structure of the population, the range of educational and training institutions and the proportion of new housing stock with modern services. More than 2,000 private houses are under construction at present in Portlaoise. Portlaoise has the best possible telecommunications infrastructure in the State and it has considerable unrealised development potential in areas of distribution, office relocations from Dublin, hotel development, conference centres, cultural development and urban renewal.

It is in keeping with the spirit and letter of the legislation that consideration should be given to siting this centre in an area outside the Dublin metropolitan area. Laois County Council, through its foresight and vision, supported the establishment of the recreation, leisure and sports forum in terms of time, personnel and finance. Laois is the first county that carried out a detailed needs analysis of sporting requirements in the county. That was done by dint of our sports and leisure officer, who works solely in the area of sports development. The county has shown a lead by being one of the first to establish a full-time sports and leisure officer.

This submission has been forwarded to the Minister, Deputy McDaid. It is a partnership submission in the name of Laois County Council, Portlaoise Town Commission and the Laois Recreation, Leisure and Sports Forum and it has the support of every public representative in the county. I hope it will be given careful and favourable consideration by the Minister.

Mr. D. Wallace:

I thank Deputy Flanagan for raising this matter. Government involvement in the development of sports dates from 1969 when the sports section was established in the Department of Education. The first Sports Council was established in 1971. Since that time, a Sports Council has existed in various forms on a non-statutory basis and with some lapsed periods. Essentially, the purpose of the council was to act as an advisory body to the Minister and the Government on matters relating to sport.

Between 1971 and 1997 responsibility for sport resided with the Minister of State at the Department of Education. The establishment of the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation in July 1997 has meant that for the first time a Minister for sport sits at the Cabinet table. This is an indication of the Government's commitment to and belief in the value and importance of sport in Irish life as we enter the new millennium.

Part of that commitment and belief can be seen in the presentation of the Irish Sports Council Bill to the Dáil. The Bill, which passed Second Stage in the Seanad today, will place the Irish Sports Council on a statutory basis. The role of the council will be broadened beyond that of an advisory body to include executive functions, some of which are at present the responsibility of the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation.

The current sports council, chaired by John Treacy, was established in June 1996 to advise the Minister with responsibility for sport on all aspects of sport and to co-ordinate the resources and energies of the sports movement. Over the past year the council has been working with the national governing bodies of sport – NGBs – to help strengthen their capacity to deliver effectively across the whole spectrum of sporting activities.

Of the 75 NGBs currently in existence, 61 are based in Dublin. The council regularly meets representatives of the NGBs, most of whom act in a voluntary capacity for the sport they represent. It is considered appropriate that the Irish Sports Council should be located close to where the majority of the NGBs are located for administrative purposes. Locating the council outside the Dublin area would also place unnecessary travel and other costs on NGBs and their representatives. This fact alone creates a strong case for siting the council in Dublin.

In addition, it is important that the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation works closely with the Irish Sports Council. It is essential that the Irish Sports Council be located close to the Department and, as stated earlier, to the national governing bodies and other organisations with which the council has contact.

For this reason, and not to impose unnecessary financial burdens on the voluntary members of the NGBs, my colleague, the Minister, Deputy McDaid, considers it appropriate and essential that the new Irish Sports Council be located in the Dublin area.

The council is located at 21 Fitzwilliam Square in Dublin 2. Those premises are being refurbished at present in preparation for the increased staffing which will follow its statutory establishment. The council is established in its premises and any move at this stage would have logistical and unnecessary cost implications.

The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Deputy McDaid, does not see a case for siting the new, statutory Irish Sports Council outside Dublin.