Vol. 537 No. 4
15 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the number of meetings he has had with the Olympic Council of Ireland since the Sydney Olympics; the matters discussed; the progress made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16196/01]
20 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the progress report he has received from the Irish Sports Council on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the council's report on Ireland's participation in the Sydney Olympics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16201/01]
41 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he intends to influence in any way Ireland's participation in the next Olympics; if he proposes to make preparatory funding available to organisations or individuals taking part; if he has any views regarding the need for extra financial support to facilitate the enhancement of Ireland's performance in international athletics in the run up to the next Olympics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16291/01]
48 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the policy changes he intends to put in place following his consideration of the official report of participation in the Sydney Olympics published by the Olympic Council of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16190/01]
150 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the progress which has been made to ensure adequate supports, especially coaching is in place for athletes hoping to take part in the Athens Olympic Games in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15373/01]
157 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the extent to which he intends to directly assist through funding, advice or other means Ireland's participation in the next Olympics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16436/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 20, 41, 48, 150, and 157 together.
I have had two formal meetings with the Olympic Council of Ireland since the Sydney Olympics. The meetings took place on 8 November 2000 and 8 March 2001. The main items discussed were Ireland's participation and performance at the Sydney games, how the Irish team prepared for the games, the levels of care and management available to Irish competitors during the games and how the relevant organisations, agencies and resources might be more effectively utilised in the future in achieving and maintaining high levels of performance in the Olympics. My Department has also acquired a copy of the Olympic Council of Ireland's official Sydney report.
In the four years leading up to the Sydney games the Government allocated more than £10 million to the national governing bodies of Olympic sports. In the year of the games alone, a further special allocation of £1 million was made to assist with Olympic preparation costs. Since 1998 £4.5 million approximately has been allocated to our top competitors for their individual development.
Because of my concerns in relation to the performance of so many of our competitors in Sydney, I requested the Irish Sports Council to carry out an indepth review of Ireland's preparation for and participation in Sydney, including the supports, programmes and schemes which where put in place leading up to Sydney. The report of the review, including recommendations for Athens 2004, was published on 6 February 2001.
