Vol. 523 No. 4
232 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the plans he has for the implementation of an integrated sporting and recreational development plan with the objective of provision of such facilities in line with those available in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21382/00]
This Government has increased funding for the development of sport and recreational facilities by over 350% since coming into office, from £8.5 million in 1997 to £41.07 million in the Estimates for the year 2000. This includes: more than a trebling in funding for the sports capital programme from £5 million in 1997 to £15.2 million in 2000; more than a quadrupling in the provision for the swimming pool programme from £3.5 million in 1997 to £15.18 million in 2000; assistance for the development of Ireland's first ever 50 metre swimming pool; a £20 million grant towards the development of Croke Park; a commitment to the provision of a new state of the art indoor athletic facility planned for Morton Stadium with a grant of £4.8 million allocated.
The sports capital programme provides funding for sporting facilities at national, regional and local level. Prior to deciding on the funding for national and regional facilities my Department, in addition to normal assessment criteria, consults with all the national governing bodies of the organisations in question with a view to establishing their present and future priorities. My Department also consults with the Irish Sports Council, other Government Departments and with the local authorities in relation to their respective priorities for the provision of sporting facilities.
Under the programme, special priority is given to proposals for facilities in disadvantaged areas, in line with Government policy aimed at increasing participation in sport and recreation in these areas. In addition, applicants are required to consult with other clubs and community groups, including schools with sport and recreational facilities in their area, and the local authority before making an application for funding and to show the outcome of such consultations. The purpose of this is to ensure that regard is had to identified needs of the area and that the proposed development does not result in an overlap with and/or duplication of existing facilities. Sports clubs developing projects at national level are also required to ensure that the proposals are consistent with the priorities of their respective national governing bodies.
This year, under my Department's sports capital programme, an amount of £36 million is being allocated to nearly 700 projects around the country.
This programme, together with the expanded local authority swimming pool programme, the 50 metre pool in Limerick, the improved Croke Park and planned development of Sports Campus Ireland and Morton Stadium, Santry will provide the country with a much increased range of top class indoor and outdoor sports facilities.
