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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 2

Written Answers. - Sports Funding.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

19 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the extent to which he has provided facilities for swimming and track and field events throughout the country in the past four years; his plans for the funding and provision of such facilities in future; the extent to which such facilities of Olympic standard are available; his proposals in this regard for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7698/02]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

531 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he is satisfied that Irish athletes have adequate facilities to compete effectively at international level; his plans to offer assistance in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7907/02]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 531 together.

I thank the Deputy for affording me the opportunity to set out the substantial improvements in the provision of top class sporting and recreational facilities throughout the country since the Government took office. This has been achieved by the level of increased funding for sport provided by this government – more than €131 million this year – compared with the €17 million provided by the previous Government.

In relation to swimming, I have increased the total annual allocation of €3.8 million provided by the previous Government to €19 million per year to help provide new and refurbished local swimming pools throughout the country. The new 50 metre pool has already opened in Limerick and the new aquatic centre, and the pool at Abbotstown will be completed by the end of this year and will be used for the World Special Olympic Games in 2003.

Since taking office I have allocated more than €134.6 million to 2,044 sports and recreational projects in towns and villages throughout Ireland. This investment is helping to provide major regional athletics tracks such as in Cork, Sligo, Navan, Galway, Castleisland and Ringsend as well as the state-of-the-art new indoor athletics facility planned for Morton Stadium, Santry.

In all, I have allocated sports capital grants amounting to more than €10.1 million to 50 athletics projects in the last three years alone, and the standards and specifications of facilities meet the appropriate relevant requirements of international sports federations.

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