I thank the Chairman, Deputies Deenihan, O'Shea, Collins, Breen and Glennon, and Senators Ó Murchú and Daly for their contributions.
On the issue of women in sport, we have sought to attract more women into sport but it is disappointing that only 10% of women are actively engaged in sport. This year, therefore, we have upped the allocation for women in sport. Last year we allocated €750,000. This year we have increased that to €1.5 million in the hope that it will attract more women into sport. That means that, this year and last year, the spend on attracting women into sport will be €2.25 million, which is no small amount when it is specifically for that purpose. I am aware that the Irish Sports Council is finishing its proposal on its response for 2006 and we hope to announce the details later on.
Deputy Deenihan also raised the question of the institute of sport, as did Senator Daly and Deputy O'Shea. The position regarding the location of the institute of sport is that the existing providers of specialist supports for lead performers, including Limerick, will have key roles in the institute of sport. The National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick, which has provided valuable support to our unique athletes in recent years, will still have a crucial role to play. The proposed development at Abbotstown and the existing national regional training centres will be an integral part of the institute also. We are developing the specific format of the institute in line with the proposals of the report of the advisory group.
I have visited Limerick and I have seen the facilities to which Deputies Deenihan and Collins and Senator Daly refer, and there is no question that they are of the highest quality. The institute has hosted many athletes from abroad and I have no doubt it will play a crucial role in the concept of an institute for sport in the country. I have no doubt also that it will host many international athletes in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympic Games and beyond.
The proposal to establish an institute of sport was devised following an extensive consultative process in which I was engaged. We included both national and international experts in drawing the conclusions. I look forward to the day when we will be able to put forward details to enable the structure to get up and running.
In general terms, everyone would accept that the establishment of an institute of sport is a major milestone in Irish sport. It is necessary that all the issues and challenges which relate to its establishment are thoroughly considered and that consideration is now almost complete.
It is great to see that the members of the committee are enthusiastic about the potential of the institute of sport to become a source of real support for Ireland's elite athletes by making best emerging technology, sports science and sports medicine available to them, thereby bringing our support system in line with those available elsewhere. Existing providers of specialist support to elite performers will have a key role in its new structure.
Significant progress has already been achieved in recent years, including the development of a high performance system in the country in terms of increased funding, specific support programmes and the construction of national and regional training centres. These aspects, allied to the increased support which we have given to the Sports Council, have certainly improved our prospects in the short, medium and long term.
As for funding for sports facilities in primary and secondary schools, I have a specific budget which is for national governing bodies, NGBs, the Sports Council and sports clubs. However, under the sports capital programme we support joint applications between schools and local clubs. I acknowledge the importance of introducing young people to sport and all physical activities at an early age. In the development of a new strategy for sports facilities, the relationship between the sports capital programme and school facilities will be considered. The Department of Education and Science is represented on the steering group working on the development of the new strategy which is to be ready by the end of this year.
The roll-out of the local sports partnership is a key component of the Sports Council's strategy for 2006-08. The council's aim is to have a nationwide network of partnerships at the end of the strategy period. Much of the work of the local sports partnerships is related to school activities through the Buntús programme.
Deputy O'Shea asked about Abbotstown. The sports campus there, to which the Government has committed €119 million, will provide state-of-the-art facilities, including residential accommodation for our sports people. In that way, they will receive the very best quality of support. In that context, the first NGB to go into Abbotstown will be the FAI. There is a great level of interest among the national sporting bodies in placing their headquarters at Abbotstown.
Deputy O'Shea commented on recommendation No. 13, which is that the Irish Sports Council should develop a pilot mentoring programme for previously carded athletes with a view to facilitating knowledge transfer to new athletes. The Irish Sports Council has set aside funds in 2006 to establish an athlete lifestyle programme, which will include a mentoring programme for existing athletes. The council has begun the process of identifying a co-ordinator for that programme and expects an appointment to be made later this year.
The question of the Sports Council of Ireland undertaking annual independent research to measure the satisfaction rating of athletes in terms of Olympic preparation planning was also referred to, as was the question of support agencies reviewing areas of improvement bi-annually, especially drug use and the use of dietary supplements. The Irish Sports Council continues to engage with governing bodies and athletes regularly and will continue to adjust and adapt its funding programme as appropriate.
It is proposed that an external agency will be commissioned in the final quarter of this year to assess the progress that has been made in the context of the recommendations of the Athens review. A survey of the athletes will be undertaken as part of the process of assessment.
I meet the chairperson of the Sports Council regularly to discuss the implementation of elements of sports policy which are the responsibility of the council, including implementation of the recommendations in the Athens review. Officials in the Department meet the Sports Council executive quarterly to ensure that issues relating to the development of our elite athletes are implemented.
As this year marks the 50th anniversary of Ronnie Delaney's victory in Melbourne, Senator Ó Murchú rightly acknowledged the role he played and the role model he continues to be. It was a tremendous day for Ireland but it was a long time ago. Nonetheless, he is, and remains, the only Irishman to have won an Olympic gold medal in a track event.
It is certain that the training and support regimes in place for athletes have improved considerably over the years. We are committed to putting in place the very best sports facilities and supports for our sports people. Since this is the 50th anniversary of Ronnie Delaney's victory at Melbourne, we will ensure it is commemorated in a fitting manner. The first of December marks the actual anniversary.
I thank Deputy Collins for his positive comments on the Government's work in putting in place a network of facilities throughout the country. We started off in 1998 with a barren landscape but, thankfully, the situation has changed significantly in recent years. More needs to be done, however, and it will be.
Senator Daly referred to the structure of the institute. While it is proposed that the administration of the institute will be in Dublin, as recommended by the Irish Sports Council, there will be roles for the University of Limerick as well as third level institutions in Dublin and the North of Ireland. It will be a key challenge to ensure that all the existing providers will play a role in the work of the institute and that value for money is obtained.
Like Deputy Glennon, I am loath to advise the GAA what it should or should not do regarding the request by the Gaelic Players Association. I have met the GPA in the past and only last week I met officials in Croke Park. I outlined then that the question of grants for inter-county players is, in the first instance, a matter for the Gaelic Athletic Association, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, to discuss. If it is the case that the GAA comes to the Government with positive proposals on grants for elite players, the Government will certainly consider them.
I have stated that I would not advise the GAA, for example, whether it should or should not open Croke Park for the purposes of rugby or soccer home internationals. In as much as I would be slow and loath to do that, I would not like to indicate to the GAA at this point what direction it should take. While there is no question that professionalism in rugby has been beneficial, at provincial and national level, it must also be acknowledged that club rugby has not been assisted by professionalism. Unfortunately the interest in club matches, which existed previously, no longer appears to exist. That is no big news for the great game of rugby. We must recognise that professionalism is not all plain sailing.
That said, it is important to point out, as Deputy Deenihan rightly did, that the GPA has not said it wants pay for play but has sought a system of grants. Deputy Glennon made the point that if that is not conceded, there might be a difficulty in how the matter progresses from there. The last thing anyone wants is a conflict between Cumann Lúthchleas Gael and its elite players. That is the worst possible thing which could happen for Gaelic games. It is best that the GAA discusses the issue with the GPA.
In the meantime, I have made it clear to the Croke Park authorities and the president of the GAA, Mr. Brennan, that I would not enter into negotiations with the GPA because to do so would be to pre-empt any decision the GAA might make and that it would represent an unwarranted interference by me in its internal business. It should also be recalled that once a decision on grants is made by the GAA and if it is favourable, the structure of those grants, to whom they would be paid, to what games they would be confined, etc. would arise. However, they are issues for another day. The issue is one for the GAA to discuss. I will not enter into negotiations with any organisation on that issue until such time as the GAA comes to its own conclusions.