Written Answers. - National Lottery Funding.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
24
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
if he has satisfied himself that adequate funds from lottery moneys have been diverted to support athletics; if he will introduce any changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20998/00]
Jan O'Sullivan
Question:
48
Ms O'Sullivan
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
the plans he has to upgrade facilities for athletics to state of the art level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21124/00]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
228
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
if the level of financial support and investment in athletics in this country is on par with that available in other EU states; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21378/00]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
229
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
if sufficient support from the proceeds of the National Lottery or otherwise is available for the promotion of track and field events; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21379/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 48, 228 and 229 together.
Substantial funding continues to be provided by my Department to support the development of athletics in Ireland. The increase in sports funding from £13.5 million in 1997, when this Government took office, to the all-time high of over £51 million this year, has ensured very considerable improvements in the quality and extent of the facilities and services available to all sports in Ireland.
Capital funding for the provision of sport and recreational facilities has increased by over 350% since I took office. The sport of athletics has benefited in a very significant way under my Department's sports capital programme in the recent few years.
Recently, the Deputy will be aware, I announced the allocation of a grant of £4.8 million towards the provision of a new state of the art indoor athletics facility for Morton Stadium, Santry. This major new facility will be a boon to the training, coaching and competitive needs of Irish track and field athletes. It will also provide new administrative headquarters for the newly unified governing body of Irish athletics.
In addition, substantial grants have been made towards the upgrading, refurbishment and provision of athletics facilities in Cork, Galway, Navan, Castleisland and Nenagh.
Under the sports capital programme, nearly 700 clubs and organisations were allocated grants amounting to £36 million this year. This is helping to ensure that we have a network of good quality facilities around the country to meet the needs of a wide number of sports and disciplines. The planned facilities at Stadium and Campus Ireland will add to the greatly enhanced range of sophisticated, high quality facilities available in Ireland.
Since its establishment on a statutory basis with effect from 1 July 1999, the Irish Sports Council supports Irish athletics through a range of programmes, including its annual grant scheme for administration, coaching and competition and organisation development and its international carding scheme. The question of the allocation of funds under these programmes is a matter for the council.
I am not aware of any study which compares the range of facilities available here with those in other EU countries or other jurisdictions. I am satisfied, however, that there is now under way an ambitious programme of state assisted expansion in a wide range of sports facilities, catering for both the elite participant and the general public, right across the country.
Question No. 25 taken with Question No. 15.
Question No. 26 taken with Question No. 15.
