David Stanton
Question:35 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the role of his Department with reference to sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31640/03]
Written Answers. - Departmental Strategy Statement.
The overall public policy objective for Irish sport is to promote and encourage a vibrant and active sports sector, especially in areas of disadvantage, with increased participation, good quality, sustainable facilities and opportunities for people to play an active role in sport. Within this policy context the talents, potential and needs of competitive and the elite are also cherished and supported in their pursuit of excellence and success in top sport. There is also a high correlation between active involvement in sport and healthy lifestyle.
My Department's role is to provide the overall policy framework and the necessary funding to assist in the provision of sports facilities and to enable its State agencies, the Irish Sports Council, Horse Racing Ireland and Bord na gCon, to carry out their various functions in relation to the promotion and development of sport and to liaise with and monitor the effective delivery of Government policy, adherence to Government financial requirements and standards of good governance by these agencies. I refer the Deputy in this regard to the 2003-2005 statement of strategy of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism which is accessible on the Department's website.
The departmental strategy for sport guides the Irish Sport Council's actions in its promotion and development of sport as outlined in its statement of strategy 2003-2005, Sport For Life. Funding for the Irish Sports Council has increased from just over €13 million in 1999 to in excess of €30 million for 2004. My Department also, under the terms of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, continues to fund the development of both the sports of horse and greyhound racing. Next year Horse Racing Ireland and Bord na gCon will together receive about €66 million from the fund for the continued development of both sectors.
In addition, the Department, in keeping with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government has undertaken to develop a new strategy for the provision of sports facilities in Ireland and carry out an audit of existing sports facilities throughout the country.
The impact of my Department's role in sport can be gauged by the very significant increase in the level of Government funding for sport from €17 million in 1997 to over €176.2 million for 2004, which has facilitated the provision of a greatly enhanced range and quality of sports programmes for all age groups and levels of ability in a nationwide network of high quality sport and recreation facilities.
My Department's sport capital programme has been enormously beneficial to clubs, sports organisations and community groups in every village, parish and town throughout the country. Since 1998 on the sports capital side alone my Department has allocated almost €267 million to over 3,500 projects around the country. On top of this we have also committed over €57 million towards the provision and upgrading of local authority swimming pools, which are so important to the provision of sports and leisure opportunities for all members of the community.
The new 50 metre swimming pool at the University of Limerick and the National Aquatic Centre at Abbotstown which has just hosted the very successful European Short Course Championships are key facilities in the context of our high performance strategy for elite competitors as well as for clubs, learners and fun swimmers.