Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 3

Written Answers. - Sports Facilities.

David Stanton

Question:

23 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the resources which he has made available to enable coaching facilities be provided to aid sporting activities; the procedures which are in place to monitor the use of such funding; his views on the standard and availability of coaching and training expertise to young people generally; his further plans regarding this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22409/01]

David Stanton

Question:

164 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the resources which he has made available to enable coaching facilities be provided to aid sporting activities; the procedures which are in place to monitor the use of such funding; his views on the standard and availability of coaching and training expertise to young people generally; his further plans regarding this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22651/01]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

I propose to take Questions

Nos. 23 and 164 together.

The Irish Sports Council, which was established on a statutory basis from 1 July 1999, provides funding for a range of programmes to develop and enhance governing bodies of sport, their coaching, training and international competition activities. The National Coaching and Training Centre which also receives funding from the council, provides a range of high quality programmes in coaching and in scientific, physiological services for governing bodies, individual elite athletes, and other related services to elite competitors and squads.

Funding is also being provided by the Sports Council for the development of programmes to encourage and promote greater underage participation in the major field sports, soccer, rugby, gaelic football and hurling. Additionally, funding is being provided to encourage and promote greater participation by older people in recreational sport and activities.

The international carding scheme, which we introduced in 1998, has provided around £4.5 million for our elite and developing top competitors for their individual development. The council has recently completed a review of high performance sports strategy in Ireland, which follows on the publication earlier this year of the report on Ireland's performance at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and recommendations for Athens 2004.

The Irish Sports Council is engaged, on an ongoing basis, with the national governing bodies of sports and other agencies in reviewing and monitoring the various initiatives and their effectiveness. Details of the programmes funded by the Sports Council are contained in the Guide to the Operation and the Functions, Records, Rules and Practices of the Irish Sports Council.

The world class facilities to be provided at Sports Campus Ireland, the 50 metre pool being provided in Limerick, together with the greatly enhanced range and quality of facilities for a wide variety of sports, including athletics, boxing, basketball which have been provided, in addition to the network of facilities at regional and local level, all contribute to an excellent range of supports and facilities available to our top national and international competitors.

Under the sports capital programme which is administered by my Department, grants to the value of £105.5 million have been allocated to 2,035 projects in every parish, town and city in Ireland since this Government took office. These allocations represent a substantial increase in funding over the £18 million provided for sports facilities over the three years 1995 to 1997. Prior to deciding on funding for national and regional facilities my Department, in addition to the normal assessment criteria, consults with the national governing bodies of the organisations in question with a view to establishing their present and future priorities. My Department also consults with the Irish Sports Council, other Departments and with the local authorities in relation to their respective priorities for the provision of sports facilities.

A sum of £45 million is available for the swimming pool programme for the period 2000-02. This programme has given local authorities an enhanced opportunity to submit proposals to refurbish existing pools and to construct new pools under the programme. During 2000 a revised funding mechanism was put in place that resulted in a grant of up to £3 million being available towards the renovation of existing of existing pools or the building of new pools.

I am satisfied that that there is now under way an ambitious programme of state assisted expansion in a wide range of sports facilities and support services, catering for both the elite participant and the general public, right across the country.