Bernard J. Durkan
Question:235 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his proposals to upgrade sporting and recreational facilities here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28260/01]
Written Answers. - Sports Funding.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:237 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if investment in track and field, sporting and recreational activities here is on par with that in other European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28262/01]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:238 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his plans for the provision of indoor and outdoor sporting and recreational facilities on a country wide basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28265/01]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:242 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the total amount he expects to be in a position to allocate for the provision of sporting and recreational facilities here in 2001 and in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28269/01]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:244 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his plans for the provision of adequate sporting and recreational facilities in or adjacent to towns or villages with particular reference to meeting demographic needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28271/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 235, 237, 238, 242 and 244 together.
The hugely increased investment in sport by the Government resulted in a considerably enhanced quality and range of top class facilities from national level to local community clubs and centres. Under the sports capital programme administered by my Department, funding is provided for indoor and outdoor facilities, local community projects and major regional and national sporting facilities. Grants under the programme totalling more than £106 million €135million have been allocated to 2,044 projects in villages, parishes, towns and cities throughout Ireland since this Government took office. This funding represents a substantial increase over the amount of less than £19.4 million €24.6million provided under the programme by the previous Government over the three years 1995 to 1997. In 2001 alone, more than £44.2 million or about €56.2 million was allocated to 703 projects, representing an increase in funding of 640% on the allocation of less than £6 million in 1998.
All applications received under the sports capital programme are assessed on an individual basis by officials in the sports division of my Department in accordance with the detailed assessment criteria specified in the programme's guidelines, terms and conditions, which are available on hard copy and on the Department's website at www.tourism-sport.irlgov.ie.
The assessment process must take into account existing levels of facilities in an area, the strategic positioning of major facilities which may be required, and the quality of applications received for such projects. Each year a number of major regional and national projects are allocated funding, following consultations with the Irish Sports Council, other Government Departments and the relevant national governing bodies of sport and local authorities, as applicable, in relation to their respective priorities for the provision of sporting facilities.
Under the 2001 sports capital programme, a total of over £1.7 million €2.2 million was allocated to 18 athletics projects. This funding ranged from the provision of basic equipment for athletics clubs to the provision of major regional athletics facilities such as at Sligo IT £500,000 or €634,869, Crusaders AC in Ringsend £250,000 or €317,435 and £750,000 or €952,304 altogether in the last two years, Dundrum, south Dublin, £200,000 or €253,948 and An Ríocht in Castleisland £250,000 or €317,435 in 2001 and a total of £615,000 or €780,889 to this project since 1999. These grants increase the number and quality of regional athletics facilities which I have funded in recent years, which also include NUI Galway, Finn Valley in Donegal, Tullamore Harriers and Claremont Stadium in Navan.
In addition to projects specifically classified as athletics, a further £14 million €17.8 million was allocated in 2001 to 160 projects which were classified as community or mixed sport, many of which would provide some athletics facilities. In 2000, I also provided funding of £4.8 million €6.1 million under the sports capital programme for the provision of the national indoor athletics centre and headquarters for the Athletics Association of Ireland at Morton Stadium in Santry. I propose to announce details of the 2002 sports capital programme within the next few weeks and it will then be open to all sporting and community organisations to make application for funding for their projects at that time.
The local authority swimming pool programme is also administered by my Department and provides a sum of £45 million for the period 2000-2002 under an increase in the annual budget from £3 million to £15 million per annum over these years. Under the programme, grants of up to £3 million are available towards the refurbishment of existing pools and the provision of new pools.
As part of the Government's overall sports policy, my Department committed a grant of £5.95 million towards the construction of the 50 metre swimming pool in Limerick, which is expected to be completed soon. A total of £4.9 million €6.2 million was provided for this item in my Department's Estimates for 2001.
An amount of £85 million has been earmarked for the provision of community sporting and recreational facilities under the culture, recreation and sports measure of the local infrastructure sub-programme of the regional operational programmes of the national development plan 2000-2006. The facilities will be located at locations to be identified in the national spatial strategy.
I understand from Campus and Stadium Ireland Development, the company established to drive the development of Sports Campus Ireland, that the aquatic and leisure centre at Abbotstown, which is required to be completed for the Special Olympics Summer Games in 2003 is currently being built on target.
My Department's estimates for 2002, when they are finalised, will reflect the estimated level of funding for the provision of sporting and recreational facilities required next year. The massive and ongoing investment in sport provided by this Government has resulted in a considerably enhanced quality and range of top class facilities from national level to local community clubs and centres, and enables me to continue the work of providing a network of high quality, appropriate and sustainable sport and recreation facilities countrywide.
Question No. 236 answered with Question No. 113.
Questions Nos. 237 and 238 answered with Question No. 235.
Question No. 239 answered with Question No. 113.