Vol. 529 No. 2
162 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has carried out any assessment of sporting and recreational needs with particular reference to bringing such facilities up to modern international standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2729/01]
Applicants seeking funding for major sports and recreation facilities under my Department's sports capital programme and the local authority swimming pool programme are required to provide a feasibility study setting out detailed assessments on such areas as the types of facilities planned, their potential utilisation, viability, appropriateness to local, regional and national requirements and policy directions and their sustainability over a long period of time. Priorities for major facilities are considered and assessed in consultation with the relevant national governing bodies of sport.
The greatly increased funding for sport provided by the Government over the past three and a half years has resulted in a considerably enhanced quality and range of top class facilities from national level to local community clubs and centres. The range of services and facilities to be provided at Sports Campus Ireland will be among the best in the world. The development of the new indoor athletic facility at Morton Stadium, outdoor tracks in various parts of the country, the opening later this year of the national 50 metre swimming pool in Limerick, the increased funding for local authority swimming pool programme, the newly refurbished national boxing stadium, the development of Croke Park and county GAA and League of Ireland grounds are just some examples of the very significant progress in the development of high quality, appropriate and sustainable sport and recreation facilities since this Government took office.
