Vol. 537 No. 4
57 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will provide special funding for the development of junior elite athletes by way of top-level coaching and training at home and abroad; if so, the funding he has in mind; the way in which this compares to countries less well off economically than Ireland; and if this shows far greater financial support and facilities than Ireland. [16135/01]
The promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport and the achievement of excellence in competitive sport is a function of the Sports Council under the terms of the Irish Sports Council Act, 1999. The allocation of grants to the National Coaching and Training Centre, the Olympic Council of Ireland, the Paralympic Council and national governing bodies and other support schemes in respect of athletes participating in international competitions is an aspect to fulfilling this function.
However, the Deputy may be interested to know that under the international carding scheme introduced in 1998, a holistic range of supports incorporating financial, medical, sports science, coaching and training, is available to Ireland's established and developing young elite athletes. Since 1998 approximately £4 million has been allocated to athletes under the scheme.
The Irish Sports Council has recently established a high performance committee, which includes representatives of national governing bodies of sport, the Olympic Council of Ireland, the Paralympic Council of Ireland, the National Coaching and Training Centre and others with experience in this area. The committee, which is required to report to the council by 30 June next, will review elite sport in Ireland and recommend a strategic approach to its further development.
