Written Answers. - Sports Capital Programme.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
113
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
if any assessment has been done in respect of the sporting and recreational requirements of the population here with particular reference to growing urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26189/00]
There are almost 70 local authority swimming pools in Ireland. Last year my Department commissioned ILAM (Ireland), who are consultants specialising in sports facilities, to prepare a report on the condition of local authority pools built between 1966 and 1981. Thirty pools around the country were identified as being in need of refurbishment. I then secured a £45 million funding package for the swimming pool programme for the period 2000-2, effectively increasing the annual budget from £3 million per annum to £15 million over these years.
Under the swimming pool programme grants of up to £3 million are available towards both the refurbishment of existing pools and the provision of new pools, subject in both cases to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project or, in the case of projects located in designated disadvantaged areas, 90% of the eligible cost. Support is available towards the swimming pool, toddler pool, sauna and steam room and ancillary accommodation that relates directly to the swimming pool. There are four stages in the approval process for a swimming pool project and my Department gives prompt consideration to progressing each proposal to the next stage, in the context of funding available.
My Department has also committed a grant of just under £6 million towards the construction of a full competition size 50-metre swimming pool at Limerick University. Construction is progressing and the pool is scheduled for completion next year.
The Government has approved proceeding with the development of an aquatic and leisure centre at the Campus and Stadium Ireland site at Abbotstown, incorporating a full competition size 50 metre pool, with a view to completion in time for the Special Olympics which is being held in Dublin in 2003.
The national lottery funded sports capital programme also operated by my Department provides funding to clubs/organisations at local, regional and national level for the provision of sports and recreational facilities. Under the programme funding is allocated on the basis of individual applications received with special priority being given to proposals for facilities in disadvantaged areas, in line with Government policy aimed at increasing participation in sport and recreation in these areas.
The 2000 programme was advertised in early December 1999 and the closing date for the receipt of applications was 11 February 2000. Some 1,650 applications were received and evaluated against the programme's assessment criteria which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions which accompanied the application forms and I announced the bulk of the grant allocations in July 2000.
Under the programme 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 the 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 national governing bodies.
In addition my Department consults as appropriate, when assessing applications, with other relevant Departments and agencies, including the Irish Sports Council, with a view to ensuring co-ordination in the provision of sport and recreational facilities at local level.
The Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF), which forms part of the Government's national drugs strategy, provides funding to support the development of youth facilities, including sport and leisure facilities, and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. To date, the fund has allocated in excess of £37 million over three years to assist over 330 projects with the primary aim of attracting young people in the targeted areas, at risk of becoming involved in drugs, into more healthy pursuits. While my Department has responsibility for policy and some operational matters in relation to the fund, the moneys are held in the Vote of the Department of Education and Science.
The Irish Sports Council was established on 1 July 2000. The council's statement of strategy, 2000-02, entitled "A New Era for Sport", was formally launched in September. The strategy statement sets out clearly the council's vision for sport and how it proposes to deliver on that vision. The strategy incorporates a pathway for the creation of local sports partnerships as a means of creating sustainable sports development infrastructure at local level, along the lines envisaged by Government and the social partners in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. It is expected that a number of pilot projects will be put in place in 2001.
The Government, through the Irish Sports Council, is making more than £800,000 available over three years towards this initiative to the three main national governing bodies, the GAA, FAI and IRFU, and will be subject to continuing assessment by the organisations and the council to ensure that targets are met and that the initiative is successful in achieving its very desirable aims.
This initiative will also provide valuable guidelines on best practice for other sporting bodies in relation to increasing the number of young people in disadvantaged areas participating in sport through the provision of leadership and guidance to local groups working in the general sport and recreation areas.
Under the culture, recreation and sports measure of the local infrastructure sub-programme of the regional operational programmes of the NDP, a sum of £85 million has been specifically allocated for the provision of community sporting and recreational facilities for 2000-06. These facilities will be located at gateway towns to be identified in the national spatial strategy currently being undertaken by the Department of the Environment and Local Government. Once the gateway towns have been identified, proposals will be sought from local authorities, and where appropriate voluntary and community organisations, for the provision or upgrading of sport and recreational facilities. Work on the identification of regional gateways is scheduled for completion by mid-2001, when implementation of the measure can begin.
Question No. 114 taken with Question No. 111.
