Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Oct 2005

Vol. 181 No. 6

National Sporting Facilities: Motion.

Mr. K. Phelan

I move:

"That Seanad Éireann:

—congratulates the Government for giving unprecedented political priority to sport and recreation combined with record investment;

—welcomes the substantial increase in the annual sports budget to €130 million in 2005 compared to just €17 million in 1997;

—acknowledges sport was first given a seat at the Cabinet table back in 1997 and notes by the end of 2005, Government spending on sport since 1997 will be over €740 million;

—notes too that the Sports Council budget in 2005 is €34.4 million, taking the total funding since its establishment in 1999 to almost €158 million;

—maintains that significantly increased funding under the Sports Capital Programme has ensured the provision of high quality sport facilities in many locations throughout Ireland;

—welcomes the fact that since 1998, over €385 million has been allocated to 4,899 sports capital projects;

—congratulates the Government for investing in the development of facilities which cater for national needs, for example the National Aquatic Centre at Abbotstown, the National Boxing Stadium; the National Rowing Centre at Inniscarra, County Cork, the National Hockey Stadium in UCD and the Tennis Ireland National Centre in Glasnevin;

—supports the policy of developing top class regional facilities serving all sports which are being developed through the provision of regional sports centres all over Ireland; and

—asks the Government to continue to place a special emphasis on sport and recreation as this will have significant benefits in fostering healthier lifestyles and stronger communities."

I welcome the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, to the House for this evening's debate. I am delighted to be able to speak here in support of this Fianna Fáil motion. We should congratulate the Government on giving unprecedented political priority to sport and recreation, combined with record investment.

We, in Ireland, are blessed to have a wonderful sporting tradition in every townland, parish and city. This comes in the form of a variety of different sports, not merely team but also individual sports. No matter where one goes throughout the length and breadth of Ireland sport plays a significant part in the lives of the old and young, whether as a participant, a supporter or a manager. In this regard am proud that the Government has played an important role in supporting our sporting organisations at national level. For example, as the motion explains, in 1997 the total annual sports budget was €17 million whereas this year's sports budget is €130 million.

Although the motion refers to sporting facilities that cater for national needs, we cannot talk about national sporting facilities without addressing the issues associated with local sport and local sporting organisations. Over the past number of years I have been delighted to see the amount of money that the Government has put into local sport and community organisations. This year alone, through the sports capital programme, my county of Laois has received €721,500 for projects such as GAA, rugby, boxing and athletics.

There was further good news announced in my county in June when the Minister approved the contract documents for replacement swimming pools in Portlaoise and Portarlington. This funding is under the local authority swimming pool programme where grants of up to €3.8 million are available to cover 80% of the cost of the projects.

As a member of a local GAA club, I know only too well the role the GAA and other local sporting organisations play in the life of rural Ireland. In many areas of the country there are few, if any, sporting and recreational facilities apart from those provided by the GAA. That is why I disagree with those who slam the Government for giving money to the GAA and, indeed, for the development of Croke Park.

Croke Park is beyond doubt one of the finest sporting stadiums in the world. I have attended it on many occasions. Unfortunately, this year I did not get to attend that many games when Laois went out of the championship early, but I will leave that matter aside. I have been struck by the quality, size and comfort of the stadium. Every member of the GAA can be proud of their stadium which is a monument to the men and women who run the GAA as a voluntary organisation, but it is worth remembering that substantial Government funding was given to the GAA to assist in this project.

The Government has also worked hard to improve sporting facilities across the country and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism has allocated significant amounts of funding under the national lottery funded sports capital programme. In this regard one of the main policies of the Government in the development of sport and recreational facilities is to increase participation, particularly in disadvantaged areas. The sports capital programme is the primary vehicle for supporting the development of such facilities for voluntary sporting organisations at local, regional and national levels. Grants are allocated towards projects such as multipurpose sports halls, athletics stadiums and GAA, soccer and rugby pitches.

As the motion outlines, since 1998 the sports capital programme has been the catalyst for the delivery of modern well equipped facilities in all counties and has provided grants to the value of €385 million to 4,900 projects throughout the country. Examples include the following projects listed in the motion — Strong penalties are imposed for this type of event, including up to three years' imprisonment on conviction and indictment. the National Aquatic Centre, the National Boxing Stadium, the National Rowing Centre, the National Hockey Stadium and the Tennis Ireland National Centre. However, I am aware of many more projects that have been funded by the Government in the past number of years such as the swimming pool in Limerick and sports centres in Dublin, Athlone, Letterkenny, Ennis, Galway, Ballina, Navan, Bray and Waterford.

I am confident that the Government is doing a wonderful job in the promotion of sport and the provision of sporting facilities where necessary. Much more can be done at local level to continue promoting sport and recreation. That is why I fully support the motion which calls on the Government to continue to place a special emphasis on sport and recreation as this has been proven to have significant benefits in fostering healthier lifestyles and stronger communities.

All the health experts warn us that we, as a society, are becoming less active and the danger from obesity and illness has increased. We need, therefore, to continue supporting each and every organisation that attempts to promote sport and the involvement of young and old in exercise. If we do that the health of our country will continue to be in good shape. That is why I commend the Minister for continuing to secure significant funding from the Department of Finance for redirection to sport and recreation facilities throughout the country.

Last January the Minister announced a package of €191 million towards the cost of the construction of the new stadium at Lansdowne Road. The Irish Rugby Football Union, the Football Association of Ireland and the Government have drawn up wonderful plans for the Lansdowne Road project and I look forward to seeing the stadium completed on time and on budget. Both the IRFU and the FAI need to be complimented on the manner in which they have come together to pool their resources in the interests of Irish sport. The Government will not be found wanting in our desire to see the opening of the stadium in December 2008.

A number of upcoming significant projects and events are worthy of mention. We all remember the Special Olympics here in 2003 and the way in which it helped promote our special athletes and encourage new people to get involved in sport. In the same way I see a great opportunity with the announcement that the 2012 summer Olympic Games will be held across the water in London. We, in Ireland, should benefit from the positive impact that will come from these games. By 2012, thanks to the Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, a range of modern well-managed facilities of the highest quality may be used by competitors of other countries for training. From our own point of view, it will offer Irish athletes an opportunity to perform at an Olympic Games in a familiar and supportive environment, without issues like travel, diet and temperatures with which to contend. I hope this will allow young people to see top athletes perform here and may help to create a new buzz in this country for all sports of the Olympic Games.

Next year will be significant, with the Ryder Cup coming to Ireland and no doubt the Minister will help in every way to make that a momentous success as well. I again offer him a special word of thanks.

Labhrás Ó Murchú

Is mian liom cuidiú leis an rún. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire chomh maith chuig an Teach. I second the motion and welcome the Minister to the House.

I avail of the opportunity to pay tribute to the Minister for the high profile which he has given sport during his term of office. No doubt he has reflected the importance of sport in the life of the community and of the nation. He has done this particularly well at community level. Anybody who has observed the Minister closely in this regard will have seen that he has travelled the length and breadth of the country to show his support, not only for the highlighted events but also for the activities at community level, which are particularly important. We should also give him credit for succeeding in obtaining approximately €149 million for sport in one year. Some years ago, the figure for sport was approximately €17 million. There has been a huge increase in the past six or seven years and that is due to the Minister's ability and commitment.

Various reports have been produced on sport and its importance to the nation. It is good that this is acknowledged because we often take this aspect of our lives for granted as a result of the fact that we have, to some extent, grown up with it as part of our communities. It is important, in challenging times, when considering the social aspects of life, to examine the social aspects of sport and the contribution it makes to the enhancement of people's lives. If we do not do this, we miss out on acknowledging one of the best vehicles we have for countering anti-social behaviour. We often talk about young people who do not participate in positive pursuits. Where young people take part in sporting activities, they grow up to be responsible citizens and make an important contribution to life.

While it is important to highlight the commercial side of sport, which is important for the country's image internationally, there is also a voluntary aspect to it. I was glad to see that the GAA was selected for particular mention in recent reports. This is only right because it has contributed through its framework from club level up to the great scenes we witness in Croke Park each year. It may seem like old hat but historically the GAA has played a major role, for example, in healing the wounds of the Civil War. This is often overlooked. It is highlighted in the GAA museum in Croke Park that people on opposing sides in that conflict participated on the same teams, whether hurling or football. As a result, people of different backgrounds and perspectives on life were brought together. This should not be forgotten. The GAA has also contributed to national life by focusing on helping the economy, for example, in encouraging people to buy Irish made goods or to take part in other such activities.

To return to the main issue regarding the availability of sufficient finance for sport, any contribution made to the sporting bodies in this country — not just to the GAA but to soccer, rugby and other sporting bodies — is repaid a hundredfold to the nation. While it is obviously repaid in financial ways, it is also repaid through the manner in which people respond to the needs of the country.

Without financial aid we would not have some of the exceptional sports arenas we have, not all based in Dublin but throughout the regions. Despite the voluntary input we had in the past and the best will in the world, if the finance had not been made available, it would not have been possible to reach the standards essential in this regard. We must be proud of Croke Park's current stage of development. It must be one of the finest sporting arenas in the world.

I know the Minister has plans for the future development of other facilities and arenas. It is great to see the enthusiasm and excitement in every village and town when the news comes through that he has made his announcements of sporting grants. People are not always looking for 100% or 75% grants but often just want enough to tip the scales to bring a project to fruition. It is probably the greatest legacy of the Minister and Government that they allow this money to permeate down through the communities to provide vital facilities.

It gives me great pleasure to second this motion and I am proud to do so. The figures and the response of recipients speak for themselves. Above all else, the image we have of being a sports-friendly nation and Government is accepted by most people.

Mr. Feighan

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following:

"—criticising the €7 million reduction in funding under the Sports Capital Programme for 2005, a reduction of 13% on last year;

—disappointed at the obvious regional disparity and inequity in the manner in which monies are allocated under the Sports Capital Programme;

—condemning the fact that even though the National Aquatic Centre cost more than €60 million, an independent report concluded that the roof did not comply with the normal design codes or building regulations;

—highlighting the numerous reports of other serious structural problems at the National Aquatic Centre;

—deploring the lack of basic sports facilities throughout the country, and at many primary and secondary schools;

—acknowledging that even though 300,000 of our children are overweight or obese the provision of physical education facilities at our schools has been totally neglected and constitutes a tiny fraction of the capital budget;

—noting the OECD findings which showed conclusively that Ireland ranks as one of the lowest in the OECD in terms of funding and support for physical education and that only 4% of school time is allocated to physical education compared to 9% in other OECD countries;

—condemning the scrapping by this Government of grants for purchasing school sports equipment;

—concerned that there is a far lower participation in sport by women than by men, even though research has clearly shown that weight-bearing physical exercise is a strong preventative measure in the incidence of certain medical conditions, like osteoporosis, which particularly affect women;

calls on the Government to:

—ensure that the Sports Capital Programme monies, which are raised by all of us through the National Lottery, are administered by the Irish Sports Council and not by the Government;

—undertake to provide all future national sports infrastructure on time, on budget and to the highest standard so that the costly and shambolic delivery of the National Aquatic Centre will not be repeated;

—give urgent priority to the development of physical education facilities, and the purchasing of sporting equipment, in primary and secondary schools;

—devote greater school time to physical education and sporting activities, and make PE compulsory at both Junior and Senior cycles in second level education;

—adopt the Brighton Principles as a matter of priority, which aim to ensure equity and equality in sport; and

—raise the profile of the health benefits of sport for women with special reference to osteoporosis and other ailments."

I listened to Senator Kieran Phelan speak about the wonderful facility in Croke Park and I join him in congratulating the GAA authorities there. We in Roscommon, just like the people of Laois, do not see Croke Park often enough, certainly not as often as the people from Kerry, the Minister's county. We live in hope.

The Government has invested in Croke Park but in recent years its involvement has not been the best. Sport and politics should be kept separate. Some years ago, the Taoiseach interfered with a democratic process, which was not helpful towards opening up Croke Park to other sports at the time. That is in the past and Croke Park has been opened up. I look forward to the day when Roy Keane or any rugby player will play there. I am sure other Senators join me in this.

In 2004 the sports capital allocation was €61 million. The announcement of €54 million for this year is a significant reduction of €7 million, down almost 13% on 2004. This is disappointing for sporting organisations that have once again been passed over for funding. I appreciate that many of the sporting organisations were happy with the allocations but some were passed over.

The money invested in the National Aquatic Centre was not well spent. The facility, which cost €62 million, leaks, lost large parts of its roof soon after opening and was closed as a result for many months. A report commissioned by the OPW confirmed that damage to the roof was caused by the failure of elements within the roof assembly. Some 11 pages of an independent engineering report into the structural soundness of the facility identified 126 cracks in the pool walls and a leakage of 50 million litres. Media eyewitnesses and reports from inside the facility confirm the existence of leaks, cracks in the floor and visible corrosion on walls and metal surfaces. That is not money well spent. We must spend the taxpayers' hard-earned money better in the future.

I am very concerned that 300,000 Irish children are overweight or obese. Many problems, including the obvious health problems, result from childhood obesity. I refer, for example, to issues like a lack of self-esteem and an increase in bullying. The increase in obesity among children constitutes a time bomb in our health services. I do not believe the Government is doing enough to tackle the serious issue of obesity among adults and school children. If one examines the records of the Department of Education and Science to ascertain the percentage of its capital expenditure budget that is spent on sport and physical education halls, one will learn that PE has been totally neglected. The consequences of that neglect are becoming evident as the percentage of schoolchildren who are obese increases. Just €3 million of the €154 million that was spent by the Department of Education and Science on capital projects in 2000 was spent on PE halls. While the amount of money spent on PE halls had increased to €7 million by 2002, that figure was halved in 2003 and had decreased to just 0.5% of the Department's capital budget by 2004. I do not think the Government is doing enough to tackle the problem of obesity among schoolchildren. The Government needs to offer more support to those who are tackling such problems.

I would like to speak about the problems caused by the tuck shops and vending machines found in many schools throughout the country. I suggest that such problems are linked to the lack of funds in many schools. The finances of many schools are in such a poor state that they need the commission that accrues to them from such shops and machines. We need to tackle this issue by replacing vending machines with facilities which offer healthier alternatives. I know of a company that is going to schools to install vending machines which sell water. The schools agree to the installation of such machines not because they offer students a healthy product, but because the schools can earn a percentage of the money that is put into the machines. They can earn a similar percentage by selling certain sugar-based branded products which cause obesity. I repeat that we need to work together to make a serious effort to tackle obesity among school-going children.

It is wrong that women in sport do not receive the same level of recognition or funding as their male counterparts. National and international research reveals that women have a lower level of participation in sport and other recreational activities. Those women who do participate in sport are more likely than men to drop out of their sporting activities. Although there are many good sports centres in Ireland, the positive phenomenon of women engaging in exercise elsewhere continues to be noticeable. If one drives along any country road tonight, one will notice women, and sometimes men, walking along the roads. I do not think such people like to walk along country roads, but they have no choice other than to do so because facilities which are appropriate to their needs do not exist. We should ensure that new bypasses which are built near urban areas cater for the needs of such people. When a bypass was built around my home town, no footpaths were constructed and no public lighting was developed. The women and fellows who like to walk along bypasses often have to do so without the assistance of footpaths or lighting. Agencies like the local authorities, the National Roads Authority and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism should work together to help people to get fit by ensuring that provision is made for footpaths and lighting when new bypasses are being built.

The sports capital programme should be administered by the Irish Sports Council, thereby taking decisions on allocations to sporting bodies out of the realm of political influence. The Arts Council is responsible for managing arts funding and the Heritage Council is responsible for decisions on the heritage grants programme. The Irish Sports Council should be responsible for the management of the sports capital programme.

Mr. J. Phelan

Hear, hear.

Mr. Feighan

If the Minister gives that responsibility to the Irish Sports Council, we will not be able to hassle him by saying that certain decisions were too political or not political enough.

Mr. J. Phelan

I second the amendment moved by Senator Feighan in the names of the Fine Gael Senators. I welcome the Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, to the House. It is appropriate that the House is having a debate on sport on the same evening as an important soccer match in Lansdowne Road. I am sure the Minister is planning to go to the match — it is only right that he should be in attendance.

Mr. Feighan

Does the Minister have any spare tickets?

Mr. J. Phelan

I was unable to get a ticket for the match. If the Minister has a spare ticket, he might send it in my direction. It is appropriate that the Minister with responsibility for sport should attend the match on this important night for Irish sport.

The motion proposed by the Government Senators this evening is typical of the motions they have tabled during Private Members' time since I was elected to the House. A number of contradictions can be found in the motion, as is usually the case. The most glaring and obvious contradiction is in the second paragraph of the motion, in which the Government Senators congratulate the Government "on the substantial increase in the annual sports budget to €130 million in 2005". The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, said last week that the €150 million spent on the PPARS computer system was nothing, not even a drop in the ocean. If €150 million is nothing, surely the same can be said of the €130 million that is being spent on sport this year.

I agree with those who have said that much more than €130 million needs to be spent on sport each year. I do not disagree with the comments of other Senators who highlighted the value of sport in the Irish context. Irish people have always been attracted to, interested in and involved in sport, for some reason. The GAA, for example, is probably the most fantastic amateur organisation of any sort anywhere in the world. I do not think one will find a better amateur sporting organisation anywhere. I say that as a playing member of the GAA. I am sure Members will be delighted to learn that I won a divisional junior B hurling medal earlier this year with my home club, Tullogher-Rosbercon.

Mr. Moylan

Good man.

Mr. J. Phelan

Unlike my colleagues, Senator Kieran Phelan from County Laois and Senator Feighan from County Roscommon, I am in the fortunate position as a Kilkenny man of being able to support my home county in Croke Park on a few occasions every year.

Mr. McCarthy

Kilkenny did not play enough games in Croke Park this year.

Mr. J. Phelan

We did not reach the all-Ireland hurling final, unfortunately.

Mr. K. Phelan

There was a good Laois man coaching Kilkenny this year.

Mr. J. Phelan

I agree with the comments of Senators about the facilities in Croke Park, which is a fantastic stadium. Full credit needs to be given not only to those who had the vision to propose the redevelopment of the stadium in the first instance, but also to the successive Governments which helped to fund the project. The proportion of the overall cost of the redevelopment of Croke Park that was met from national resources is quite small. I am somewhat taken aback by the emphasis that is placed by Fianna Fáil Members on its party's record in respect of Croke Park. When Deputy Quinn was Minister for Finance during the term of the rainbow coalition between Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Democratic Left, that Government was criticised left, right and centre by Fianna Fáil when it decided to give a grant to the GAA to help with the cost of the initial stages of the redevelopment of Croke Park. I do not refer to the representatives of Fianna Fáil who are present in the Chamber. I recall that members of that party criticised the decision on the national airwaves. I am sure they made similar protests in this Chamber and in the other House. They cannot have it both ways by praising the project now. Credit is due to the successive Governments which helped to fund Croke Park, which is an excellent facility. We should not be hypocritical in this regard, however. I remember that members of the current Government were less than satisfied when funding was allocated by my predecessors almost ten years ago, when the redevelopment of Croke Park was getting up and running.

I am disappointed that the Government motion before the House does not place any emphasis, until its final paragraph, on the level of participation in sport, which is a crucial issue. Senator Feighan spoke about women in sport. I agree with his remarks about a phenomenon that can be noticed throughout the country. Crowds of young people gather to engage in exercise, particularly in urban areas, even though appropriate sporting facilities are not available to them to allow them to spend their time more fruitfully. Such people would be willing to use such facilities if they were available.

In a recent budget, the Government slashed the level of funding available for the development of new municipal swimming pools. It is wrong that a significant town like Thurles does not have a local authority swimming pool, as far as I am aware. That is what I was told by a resident of the town when I visited it during the summer for a hurling match. When one considers that the level of funding for such swimming pools has been slashed by the Government, it is no wonder that other towns throughout the country are in a similar position to Thurles.

All Senators will agree that the involvement of local authorities in proper planning and development is a crucial aspect of the debate about the level of participation in sporting activities. It cannot be denied that an unsatisfactory number of active green spaces is being provided by local authorities. Senator Feighan was correct to refer to the need to take the demands of walkers into account when new bypasses are being developed. The ring road around Kilkenny city was constructed 20 years ago, when Fine Gael and the Labour Party were in Government. The Government has so far failed to provide the bypass. The project is said to be ongoing but no work is being done. Senator Feighan was correct to point to the use of roads and bypasses as a walking facility by many. The future development of roads and bypasses throughout the country should take account of these needs because they have not been considered heretofore.

It is worth reminding the House that with this Government, the €130 million referred to in the motion would get a third of a PPARS system, two national aquatic centres or a bit of a new national stadium. While the funding is undoubtedly an increase on previous spending, it is a paltry amount when it comes to addressing the sporting needs of the country. It is a shameful figure when one considers how much money the Government wasted on schemes that have delivered little, particularly in the health services. I fully support my colleague's amendment. Rather than engaging in self-congratulation, I urge the Government to engage in real activity on the ground.

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O’Donoghue)

I am delighted to be back in the House and to concur with the wide-ranging motion. The House could hardly have selected a more opportune time to discuss the importance of sport to the people of Ireland. Throughout the country today, two topics of debate dominate all others. The first is whether Ireland will beat Switzerland in the World Cup qualifier tonight. The whole country is fervently wishing that the boys in green will again come good. The second topic is whether Tyrone will win the next 31 all-Ireland senior football titles——

Mr. J. Phelan

Or Cork.

Mr. O’Donoghue

——so that by the end of the year 2036, they will equal Kerry's record of 33 senior titles. In that respect, I understand two or three fellows from Tyrone were in Waterville, County Kerry last week, regaling the barman in a local hotel as to how they beat Kerry and how they would continue to do so, and advising him as to how Kerry should approach all-Ireland football titles in the future. Late in the night the barman gave one of the Tyrone men his change. Looking at the change, the Tyrone man said: "Hold on a minute. That's not change. It's a medal." The barman replied: "Give me that back. It happens all the time around here. It's an all-Ireland senior football medal."

Ba mhaith liom mo chomhghairdeachas a ghabháil le Tír Eoghain, ceann de na foirne is fearr dá bhfaca mé i bPáirc an Chrócaigh. It was great to see Tyrone, from the land of the great O'Neill, win the all-Ireland title in such a splendid fashion, even if it was at my county's expense on this occasion.

Just a week ago the Economic and Social Research Institute, commissioned by the Irish Sports Council, published a report, The Social and Economic Value of Sport in Ireland. This study addresses a vital gap in our knowledge in terms of measuring the impact and importance of sport in Ireland. The Government has always been cognisant of the social impact of sport and its effect on the health and well-being of the nation. For that reason it was the first Government to recognise that by putting a Minister at the Cabinet table in 1997, sport would truly come to the fore. The ESRI report does not merely indicate a social impact but concludes that sport is the major contributor to social capital in Ireland today. This conclusion is largely based on the volunteer contribution to sport, with three people engaged in support activities to every four actively participating. Statistically, an extraordinary figure of 400,000 people, or 15% of the population, offer their services in a voluntary way to sport. Given the genuine concerns expressed in many quarters about the nature of modern Celtic tiger Ireland, this statistic offers hope and assurance about the nature of our country.

The report puts a total economic value on sport in this country for the first time ever — it is estimated at €1.4 billion a year. The volunteer sector, if all involved were paid even at the minimum wage level, is valued at €267 million a year, subscriptions to sports clubs are valued at €200 million a year, the costs of playing sport for participants is estimated at €413 million a year and the revenue generated by attendance at sporting events estimated at €525 million a year. The total value of €1.4 billion is a significant amount by any standards even within the dynamic economic environment of modern Ireland. As the report points out, this is a modest estimate, not including every possible impact from all aspects of sporting life, such as sports tourism, which it tentatively values at €350 million.

The Government spent the past eight years addressing what only now can be seen as neglect of the sector. My budget for sport this year is over €149 million, compared with an amount of just €17.4 million in 1997. By the end of 2005, the Government spend on sport since 1997 will be €740 million. This hugely increased investment in sport has resulted in a considerably enhanced range and quality of programmes and top class facilities, from national level to local community clubs and centres throughout the country.

The Government's support for sport has not just been a matter of simply making more money available. Improvements have had to be made in a strategic way. The establishment in 1999 of the Irish Sports Council as the statutory body with responsibility for the organisation and development of sport was a vital leap forward in this regard. The Government is committed to providing the necessary infrastructure on which the Sports Council's strategy, based on the three pillars of participation, performance and excellence, can be delivered. The budget for the Irish Sports Council has increased from €13.2 million in 2000, its first full year of operation, to €34.4 million in 2005. In all, the council has received almost €158 million since its inception. Additional funding in 2005 included €1.5 million for an initiative being taken to preserve and develop the games of hurling and camogie on a nationwide basis, €1 million to support initiatives aimed at the development of Gaelic games in Dublin and €750,000 to commence programmes which attract women into sport.

The foundation for the much-improved sporting infrastructure of the country under the Government has been the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department. In all, a total of €386 million in sports capital funding has been allocated to just over 4,900 projects from 1998 to the present. In terms of value for money to society, the sports capital programme as operated since 1997 is undoubtedly one of the best schemes operated by the State. The majority of the projects funded under the sports capital programme are at local level where the massive and often unheralded efforts of the volunteers keeping clubs and projects afloat received the boost of funding for new or improved facilities. This support has been vital and will be even more so in the future in attempting to ensure that the extraordinary level of volunteerism in Irish sport, as identified by the new ESRI report and to which I referred earlier, can be maintained. An important and strategic feature of sports capital funding is that the local and grassroots funding is complemented for regional and multi-sport projects and for projects at national level, particularly those required by the national governing bodies of sport, many of which are required for international competition.

Significant levels of sports capital funding has been provided for a number of municipal and multi-sport centres for the general public on a regional basis throughout the country. These centres are ideal for family-oriented sport and exercise, are particularly important for those people who are not affiliated to a specific sports club and would often provide a combination of indoor sports halls and, in some cases, swimming pools, leisure centres and outdoor facilities such as all-weather pitches. Examples of such facilities which have been allocated sports capital funding include the Finglas sports centre, lrishtown stadium in Ringsend, Sportslink in Santry and the DFRC in Dundrum; Waterford regional sports centre; Duneske leisure centre in Cahir; Killarney leisure centre; Lees Road sports centre, Ennis; Galway regional sports centre; Trim recreational needs centre; Ballina sports centre; Letterkenny sports centre; Ballywaltrim centre, Bray; Athlone regional sports centre; and Leisurelink centre, Navan.

Mr. Bannon

Did the Minister omit Longford?

Mr. O’Donoghue

Apart from the sports capital programme, our other national stadiums and facilities are progressing to the point where, when combined, the nation's sporting needs at this level will be well catered for. The redevelopment of Croke Park——

Mr. Bannon

On a point of order——

Acting Chairman (Labhrás Ó Murchú)

The Minister, without interruption.

Mr. Bannon

I understand Longford swimming pool was included for capital funding. It is not on the list.

Acting Chairman

That is not a point of order. The Senator will have his opportunity to speak. He should allow the Minister to continue.

Mr. O’Donoghue

The redevelopment of Croke Park has been a spectacular success from every conceivable point of view. Since 1998 the Government has provided €103.49 million in funding towards making Croke Park the truly magnificent venue it is now.

Speaking of Lansdowne Road — most of the nation's thoughts will be directed towards it for the rest of this evening — proposals to redevelop that stadium were agreed in 2004 and grant aid of €191 million has been committed by Government to this project. Work on developing the conceptual design for the new stadium has been proceeding since then. I will be launching the new detailed design next Monday. It is expected that a planning application for the project will be lodged by the end of this year and that construction work will commence in early 2007, subject to planning. The project is meeting all of the target schedule dates set for it.

The National Aquatic Centre, the flagship of the campus at Abbotstown, opened in 2003 and successfully hosted the swimming events of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in June 2003 and the European Short Course Championships in December 2003. There have been media reports of alleged leaks at the National Aquatic Centre in late June of this year which were repeated here this evening. I repeat for the umpteenth time that these reports are completely unfounded and untrue. Following a number of unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the centre, an inspection was finally carried out by a team led by Rohcon and including S&P Architects, URS Structural Engineers, Euro Pools specialist subcontractors, Davis Langdon PKS project managers and Kavanagh Mansfield & Partners, consulting structural and civil engineers represented CSID at the inspection. Rohcon found that there was no evidence of any structural defects or of any water leaking into the plant room as had been alleged in the media. Rohcon found some leakage through pipe joints and valves which in its view were operational matters. In addition, a test was carried out and confirmed that there were no leaks from the swimming pools. URS Structural Engineers confirmed that the concrete works were designed and constructed to meet the British standard 8007. It confirmed that any cracks that existed were not leaking, were not of a structural nature and were entirely normal for a building of this type. Rohcon published the results of its findings on 7 July. CSID received a separate report from its own structural engineers, Kavanagh Mansfield & Partners, which supported the Rohcon findings.

In 2004 the Government agreed to proceed with the development of a campus of sports facilities at Abbotstown. Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited, CSID, having consulted widely with the major governing bodies of sport, stakeholders and interest groups, put forward proposals for the development of a sports campus. This development control plan represents phase one of a wider programme for sports facilities. It proposes the development of pitches and ancillary accommodation catering mainly for the three major field sports — rugby, soccer and Gaelic games — as well as an indoor sports centre to cater for a range of indoor sports with spectator accommodation and also includes publicly accessible all weather floodlit synthetic pitches. This phase of the programme has been costed at €119 million and will have a four or five year delivery schedule. The funding of the project is currently being considered in the context of the multi-annual capital framework.

The Government is committed to providing a range of sports facilities, both locally and nationally, to meet the needs of the people, whether at elite level, at the more basic level of sports for health and enjoyment, or as spectators. To assist in the identification of new facility requirements an inter-agency steering group has been established to oversee the development of the sports facility strategy.

One of the first challenges facing the group is to oversee the commencement of a national audit of sports facilities. Once completed, the audit will enable policy makers to map the location of the various sports facilities throughout the country, leading to a more effective targeting of new or additional facilities which will complement what is already available. In this way, an efficient use of financial resources can be achieved and a fostering of greater co-operation between complementary facility providers can be encouraged. It is envisaged that the process for developing a sports facility strategy will identify any gaps in key major sports facilities required and prioritise their future delivery. This work will be carried out in consultation with the main sporting bodies.

Two of the most successful sports in Ireland have been those of horse and greyhound racing. The Government has shown its continued commitment to the ongoing development of the Irish horse racing and greyhound industries. In 2001, following the establishment of the horse and greyhound racing fund under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act of 2001, a major period of development of both racing industries has resulted. In the five years to date, this fund has provided a guaranteed level of funding to Horse Racing Ireland and Bord na gCon which by the end of 2005 will amount to €261 million and €65 million, respectively. This money has been well invested leading to undeniable benefits for both sectors and has marked a revival of interest in both sports to the benefit of the whole economy. It has not only helped towards providing some top class racing venues and facilities but it has also underpinned significant employment in both industries and the prize money it has facilitated has been an important boost for both horse and greyhound breeding.

Under the initial legislative provision, an aggregate total for the fund was set at €254 million. This limit was reached before the end of 2004 and I was pleased to announce in November of 2004 that the Government agreed for the aggregate total of the fund to be increased to €550 million to cover the period up to 2008 and to continue its support of the industries. This will ensure that both the horse and greyhound racing industries will have the necessary secure financial framework for the next few years to enable them to bring about completion of their major development initiatives.

It would be remiss of me if I did not mention the tax relief that exists with regard to stallions covering mares in Ireland and, indeed, in the greyhound industry, which is of enormous importance in developing both industries. It is sometimes forgotten in the debate which ensues any infringement on this issue that Ireland is the third most important producer of thoroughbred foals in the world after Australia and the United States of America. As a result of this tax exemption, Ireland produces more thoroughbred foals than Britain and France combined. The industry, directly and indirectly, employs 25,000 people. It would not have been possible for our bloodstock industry to have been developed to the sophisticated stage to which it has been without this exemption. It is now under threat from the EU Commission having been classed as a state aid.

It must be remembered, however, that the elimination of such an exemption at the behest of the Commission will neither benefit Ireland nor Europe. The standing of mares and stallions in Ireland benefits the bloodstock industry not only in this country but throughout Europe. The elimination of such incentive can only result in these thoroughbreds breeding in other parts of the world and not in Europe. It is not to the advantage of Europe to eliminate such an incentive but it is to the advantage of countries far away from the European Union. It is a terrible mistake for the European Union to grasp at certain issues in the belief that it is assisting competition when all it is doing is creating a greater level of competition for itself and, indeed, ensuring that the playing field in respect of such an industry is not level for its own member states.

The Government's international sports tourism initiative targets events which have the capacity to enhance the attraction of Ireland as a major sports tourism destination. Ireland has shown that it is a perfect venue for hosting major sporting events. One has only to look at the hugely successful World Special Olympic Summer Games to appreciate this. Other events such as the Women's World Hockey Cup, the European Men's Hockey Cup and the World Cross Country Championships have enhanced our reputation for hosting such events. Next year in 2006 we will host the biggest golf tournament in the world, the Ryder Cup, which will be televised to approximately 700 million homes in no fewer than 42 countries.

The link between participation in physical activity and sport and the enhancement of health and quality of life has been clearly established. Physical activity and sport not only play a very significant role in the development of individuals but also provide invaluable social, educational and recreational opportunities for every participant. Sport has the potential to enrich the lives of all people and no one, regardless of age or background, should feel that they could not benefit from physical activity. The importance of sport to society generally was recognised by the first ever provision for sport in the new EU treaty agreed during the Irish Presidency in 2004.

The swimming pools programme was mentioned and I am pleased to say there are 55 different projects at varying degrees of completion in the system at present. Some 18 pools have been completed and approximately 11 are at tender stage and we have received the contract documents. The other projects are either at preliminary report stage or some other stage of the process. It has been an extremely successful programme and I sincerely hope it is one which can be renewed in the future because the provision of swimming pools in provincial towns, in particular, has been of enormous benefit to children and adults alike.

In that context, the provision of sporting facilities in cities, in particular in disadvantaged areas, has proven to be an enormous success. It is true to say young people are faced with greater opportunities and have more advantages than any generation. However, it should also be remembered that they are also faced with far greater challenges than any previous generation. In this context, the twin threats of drugs and alcohol have a huge bearing on the social development of our children. The perfect antidote to drugs and alcohol and other anti-social behaviour is unquestionably sport. Our objective has been to take children away from the PlayStations and on to the playing fields. I believe that with continued and serious investment in Irish sport, we will continue to be successful in doing so.

Dr. Henry

I thank the Minister for coming before the House tonight and for his speech. While the Fianna Fáil motion is most interesting and full of congratulations for the Government, I was particularly interested in the last part which asked the Government "to continue to place a special emphasis on sport and recreation as this will have significant benefits in fostering healthier lifestyles and stronger communities". Before I address some points made in the amendment, I want to know if, given the congratulations being given to the Government for what it has done for sport, it will also accept congratulations for some statistics drawn up since it took office.

When the Government was first elected in 1997, the level of obesity in Irish adults was less than 10%. By the time the Government was re-elected in 2002, it was more than 13% and is now approximately 16%. The Taoiseach has promised that the next election will not be until the end of the Government's full term. If we continue to eat as we do and take as little exercise as at present, by then we could well be at approximately 17%. We could be getting near to where the Tánaiste wants us to be, namely, nearer to Boston than to Berlin. Boston has an obesity rate of 30%, while it is just over 10% in Berlin. I presume this is part of the Government's sports policies' success story.

The situation with children is even worse. There has been a doubling in the incidence of obesity in the past ten years, during most of which the Government has had what Fianna Fáil describes as its excellent sports policies in operation. They have been a disaster. We now have a generation of people which is less fit than ever before. It is terribly serious.

I attended a lecture given by Professor John Nolan last night in Trinity College. He is professor of endocrinology in St. James's Hospital. I will admit to an interest as I am president of the Diabetes Federation of Ireland. He spoke about the increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes in this country which is directly associated with obesity and lifestyle. The rates here are shooting through the stratosphere. We are doing so well we will soon be top of the league. It is particularly serious that we now have more children with type 2 diabetes in this country than with type 1 diabetes. When I studied medicine, well over a generation ago, I never saw a child with type 2 diabetes.

Senator Feighan rightly pointed out the problems with junk food at school. As children of this generation get so little exercise and eat such unhealthy food so frequently, we are allowing them to grow into human beings without anything like the hopes of a lifestyle like ours. Can Members imagine being obliged to begin injecting oneself with insulin when one is eight, ten or 12 years of age? Who wants that for any of our children? It is appalling.

The Fine Gael Members were correct to include the point about 300,000 of our children being overweight or obese and the lack of provision for physical exercise facilities in our schools in their amendment. Former Senator Therese Ridge used to talk about a school in west Dublin which has been in existence for 20 years but still has no sports hall. What sort of planning subjects children to growing up in an atmosphere like that? We must stop the sort of congratulation expressed in this motion because it is entirely wrong. I wish more Members had attended Professor Nolan's lecture last night with Senator Browne and myself to listen to what he had to say because it was profoundly depressing.

We should also show some common sense about particular matters. I was very disappointed to hear the Minister state that two of the most successful sports in Ireland are horse and greyhound racing. I have been involved with both, but unless one is walking the greyhounds, riding the horses, mucking them out or something similar, one is not getting much exercise. Shuffling around in the stands at Leopardstown or Shelbourne park does not provide one with a great deal of exercise. In fact, smart new dining rooms where one can sit, eat, drink and fatten up have now been installed. To describe these activities as two of the most successful sports in Ireland is somewhat rich.

I accepted the Minister's point when he went on to refer to these past times as important industries. I am delighted for their success and they bring in a considerable amount of money. There have been a great deal of improvements in prize money, in the facilities of the various racecourses and so forth. That has been worthwhile because a day out at the races is now much more pleasant than it was for decades, when one stood freezing to death in the cold in Mallow. It is now the smart Cork racecourse where one can go and have a really good time and partake of good food and drink. Nevertheless, much of the motion's content is out of tune with what is required to give us significant benefits in fostering healthier lifestyles. It is ridiculous.

Those Members supporting the amendment were right to raise the issue of walking in Ireland. This is a very difficult problem, particularly in rural areas, because we have a great number of one-off housing developments being built with no access to the local town by way of a footpath. This was first brought to my attention by representatives of the Irish College of General Practitioners who suggested to me that when people in these housing areas get older, they will be incapable of walking as far as their local shop and will become extremely isolated. This assumes that local shops will still exist, thanks to all the marvellous new shopping centres under construction. The situation regarding people who try to get exercise by risking their lives walking around rural Ireland is also important.

We have done some great things and I wish they had been included in this motion. The initiatives taken with Coillte to enable people to walk on Slí na Sláinte walking routes was fantastic. This is the sort of thing we need to do if we wish to encourage a healthier lifestyle, not congratulating ourselves on the amount of money that has been given to the horse racing industry. I regret the tone taken in this motion. This situation is so serious that it should not be a party political issue. We really are in a dire situation.

When I suggested a halving of the portion size of the puddings in the Oireachtas restaurant, I got into terrible trouble, particularly with my friend Senator Norris, who cried "shame" at the suggestion. The Leader thought it was a good idea. If we are to begin to really examine what sport and exercise can do for the health of the people, we need a little less self-congratulation and a little more effort to tackle what is an incredibly serious health issue which will cost us a fortune.

Professor Nolan ended his lecture last night with a cartoon. Members will be aware that it is difficult nowadays to get children to go outside and take exercise as they love being inside playing with PlayStations, computers and other gadgets. In the cartoon, the mother stood over her child as he played on his computer and asked him to go outside and get some exercise. He replied that he would, if she gave him a lap-top computer.

Mr. Brady

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, to the House and I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. The motion includes one item for which Members on this side of the House should not apologise, namely the unprecedented political priority which has been given to sport since the Government took office. I congratulate the Minister because he has brought this a step further than his predecessor. As has been noted in the House, we cannot underestimate the importance of sport and recreation in social and economic terms. The Minister remarked that the ESRI report estimated the value of the social aspects of sport to be €1.4 billion. Recently, Fianna Fáil Members had the pleasure of hearing Professor Robert Puttnam speak on the subject of social capital. Sport is the major contributor to social capital in this country. Approximately 400,000 people or 10% to 15% of our population volunteer week in, week out to support others in sport, which is a large base for us to work from. We have the experience gained from hosting the Special Olympics, which brought out a certain spirit of volunteerism at all levels in the public for possibly the first time. We should not apologise for supporting this spirit.

From the start, the Government recognised that sport must be supported, not just rhetorically but financially. The €750 million spent since 1997 is a shrewd investment in the future, the benefits of which I see at first hand. In areas around the north inner city, the increase and improvement in facilities from sports halls to all-weather pitches has been phenomenal over the past five to ten years. Were it not for this investment, some young children and teenagers would find themselves dragged into lives of drug abuse and crime with dire consequences. The investment has enabled local community activists, particularly gardaí, to divert these youths away from the possibility of falling into such traps.

Whenever I encounter children lounging around streets or on corners I make a point of asking them whether they could be somewhere else or why they are there. The answer I get 99% of the time is that there is nothing for them to do or nowhere to go. The root of many problems children fall into is boredom. The more we can do to counteract that boredom, the better. Children today have high expectations and we must attract them towards these measures. The investment in top class, fully equipped facilities is crucial in this regard. The sports capital programme has been successful because of this investment and its 4,900 projects will continue to reap benefits.

We must continue in our support and strengthening of sports infrastructure. We in this country are blessed with a solid infrastructural base, particularly in sporting terms. This includes voluntary and statutory bodies, whether it is the GAA or the Irish Sports Council, the VECs or schoolboy leagues. We are lucky to have a framework that does not exist in other countries. At weekends, clubs in my area collect hundreds of young boys and girls, give them kits, bring them to games, bring them for small snacks afterwards and drop them home. This may be for only one day per week but the difference it makes in a child's life is immeasurable. Clubs such as these comprise the backbone of our sporting infrastructure.

My recent experience is that the most beneficial improvements have been in the links between sporting clubs, people involved on a voluntary basis and statutory bodies, particularly local authorities. Significant strides have been made in Dublin City Council's area regarding the allocation of sports officers, play areas, whether they are playgrounds or all-weather pitches, and sports halls, which have been built and run by Dublin City Council. These have made profound differences to whole communities in the inner city. It is a mark of progress for which we should not apologise. We must encourage and build on it.

I was not going to mention schools but after listening to Members of the Opposition speak about school children and obesity, it is a fact that a school child spends 20% of his or her time in school and the other 80% in the loving arms of his or her family. Physical education and gym classes are parts of the curriculum whether it is a private or religious ethos school, a community college or a VEC. Parents must take responsibility for their children sitting at PlayStations for several hours per day and what their children eat. Schools can only do so much and, in fairness to them, they make every attempt to do their best.

Another interesting statistic is that every €1 of Exchequer expenditure supports the equivalent of an additional €2.7 in corresponding investment by clubs, community groups, schools, colleges and local authorities. This is fantastic as it means that €316 million of State funding supports €1.2 billion in sports and community facilities around the country. It is a testament to the policies this Government and its predecessor followed and I do not apologise for the unprecedented political priority given to sport.

Mr. McCarthy

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and acknowledge the attendance of the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, and the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I remember my first attendance during Private Members' time in this House, which began with Senator O'Toole eloquently highlighting how much he deplored any Government motion that begins by congratulating the Government, as it was probably not worthy of much support from the Opposition. I have difficulty with the wording of this motion and we will support the Fine Gael amendment.

Ireland has made significant inroads in this area in recent years, largely due to the ways in which various Governments have seriously addressed the issue of sport. Exchequer funding for sport has experienced a growth and our economy has been healthy recently, allowing the State to seriously support the many worthwhile projects in the various sporting industries. As a Corkman, I am particularly proud of Ms Sonia O'Sullivan and Mr. Roy Keane, who have brought great honour and glory to their clubs, home towns, counties and country, particularly in the case of the latter's ongoing success. This debate is opportune as Ireland faces a very important international soccer match and I wish the team the very best.

We could examine and debate a number of areas, such as the worrying levels of obesity, not just in young people but many others. Generally, there is a laid back attitude regarding people's diets and there is not enough emphasis on exercise or healthier eating. We are all aware of the need for healthier eating but it is very easy to slip back into fast food ways. If dispensing machines in schools will give young people the opportunity to have fizzy drinks instead of milk and natural drinks or the option to have crisps and chocolates, which are foods with high fat contents, the Government is not examining the issue constructively.

We are not doing enough as responsible adults and as a society, although I have recently noticed a number of people who have grown more active in terms of healthier eating, walking and engaging in exercise more. It is a product of our society that everyone rushes to work, rushes home and drives cars. It is a more frantic age. People do not allow themselves the time to engage in healthier lifestyles such as walking, exercise and other activities that are important. Doctors are blue in the face from warning people but there is a certain amount of responsibility on individuals to ensure their lifestyles reflect this growing issue, no pun intended.

Senator Henry made an important point about one-off rural housing and footpaths to towns. Many thousands of young people have been subjected to exorbitant development charges since the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, increased them in his previous role by as much as 500% or 600% in some cases; the development charge for a one-off rural house of approximately 2,000 sq ft after psychological warfare with local authorities, much expenditure on planning agents and trips to one's local politician to deal with the issue typically costs upwards of €3,000. I would be disgusted to think this development money would not go some way towards providing infrastructure such as footpaths, public lighting and playgrounds. Unfortunately, I have not yet seen the benefit of these development charges. If facilities are provided which encourage people to walk, this would be beneficial.

I will briefly discuss the GAA. I never played Gaelic football or hurling as I am one of those people who was not lucky enough to possess the knack of playing many sports. The GAA is one of the finest organisations in this country and one of the few organisations — probably the only organisation — that boasts a superb organisational structure in every parish in the country. It possesses clubhouses, pavilions, pitches, changing rooms and handball alleys. It is a great tribute and credit to the many people who worked down through the years and got out at community and voluntary level. These people marked pitches, washed jerseys, provided facilities, trained teams, organised buses and made sacrifices even though they were criticised locally when their team did not perform. This is the backbone of the GAA and I would not begrudge it one ounce of the funding it has received from the State in recent years. I say this in particular because there is a project in the offing in my home town of Dunmanway, the home of Sam Maguire, after whom the most coveted prize in Gaelic football, the Sam Maguire cup, is named. I hoped the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, would be present to hear about a project to renovate Sam Maguire's home. I hope he will not be found wanting regarding the funding that will inevitably be sought in order to restore the house and provide a monument to recognise the man's achievements.

It is a shame that we have lost many fine athletes down through the years because of a lack of facilities. There were other equally talented athletes in parts of County Cork in the early 1980s when Sonia O'Sullivan was winning her events. Unfortunately, no facilities were available at primary and second level. We were faced with issues like unemployment and emigration so matters like this were low priorities on various checklists. It was scandalous to allow that talent to escape the arena in which it could have shone but we are now in an era where we can ensure that this no longer happens. We must begin this type of investment at national school level and ensure we exploit in a good sense demand, need and potential where it exists. It is important for the Government to provide funding in these areas.

I must again be parochial on two points. A namesake of mine, John McCarthy, who is also from Dunmanway, won a silver medal in the discus competition at the Paralympics. I have yet to witness at any other level the amount of pride any town can have when its most famed son or daughter returns home with that type of prize. It is a wonderful tribute to the person involved and to sport in general to see that type of glory, not because of the pursuit of glory for glory's sake but because people can prove their ability rather than disability. It was a particularly proud moment for all who were present to witness it.

The Minister touched on the issue of funding for swimming pools. Funding for the swimming pool in Dunmanway was announced by the former Minister, Deputy Jim McDaid, in November 1999. This project has still not advanced beyond tender stage, which is disgraceful. It is not the Department's fault; it is a matter of funding at local level. This pool is built to the standard of the late 1970s and cannot compete with private facilities in the west Cork area. I have written to the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, regarding a proposal from a number of people in the locality. Aquatic sports now feature strongly in the school curriculum and the complex to which I have referred is on the same site as the campus of Maria Immaculata secondary school, a fine school and a testament to public-private partnership operating well. The inability of students to have this pool at their disposal is akin to having an equestrian centre beside a school which fails to produce champion jockeys. Every school in the locality and district would benefit from an upgraded pool. I have asked the Minister to consider a joint partnership between her own Department and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and Cork County Council with a view to providing financial assistance to get the project moving. I am glad to be able to put this on the record and I hope that the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, will convey this to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism.

Dr. Mansergh

Senator McCarthy need not apologise about being parochial. If sport is not about the parish, I am not sure what it is about. Tonight, it is obviously about the country. A few Sundays ago, I had the pleasure and honour of presenting the Mansergh cup to my own town club, Clanwilliam rugby club. The cup was presented by my grandfather in the 1920s when Clanwilliam beat Thurles.

We are discussing, certainly for its scale, one of the most successful Government programmes in existence. I welcome the Minister of State and pay great tribute to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, for his interest and commitment and the scale of what has been achieved. According to the motion, €17 million was spent on sport and recreation in 1997. I consulted the Book of Estimates for 1981 in my library upstairs where I discovered that £1.4 million was spent on sport and recreation in the days when Jim Tunney was Minister of State. He did his best in the context of the resources that were available at the time. The development of that project has been colossal. A total of €12 million has been given under the sports capital scheme in my county of Tipperary since 1997. In my experience, approximately 80% of the applications have succeeded and the 20% that do not succeed usually have a technical problem with their application in that their proposal does not have anything to do with sports or the 30% of local funding is not present. Most clubs are successful the second time around if they get their act in order. I compliment the Minister on the way this programme is run.

No speaker in this debate has suggested there are particular political motivations connected with the funding of clubs. It is sometimes said of certain clubs that they are run by a particular individual who is associated with a particular political party. This makes no difference to the success or failure of their applications for funding. I can think of one or two clubs that include people closely associated with Senator Bannon's party that have been successful in their quest for funding for two years running.

Money has also gone into intermediate facilities, which are large and ambitious projects. An example would be the Duneske Leisure limited project, which has received money from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and, I think, the Department of Education and Science because it is a complex of facilities. The Government has also supported the development of facilities at national level. The Opposition parties made heavy weather of a number of issues with regard to Government support for sports. Their message is neither one they would necessarily want to send nor is it to their advantage. At any rate, some of those at the leading edge of this criticism are not particularly interested in, or committed to, sport. This is by far the most sports-driven Government we have ever had, and that is of huge benefit.

Mr. Bannon

Will Senator Mansergh elaborate on the National Aquatic Centre fiasco?

Dr. Mansergh

Speakers are correct to state that more must be done, particularly with regard to sports facilities in schools where a great deal remains to be done. In many cases community facilities are available to schools and vice versa, as often schools which have good facilities make them available to the community.

I warmly thank the Minister for his vigorous and unscripted defence of the tax relief with regard to stallions and its importance for not only the industry in Ireland, but also in Europe. While it was ring-fenced by Mr. Charlie Haughey when he was Minister for Finance in 1969, I believe it dates back to 1938. It has been in place for a extremely long time. Whether it falls into the category of a State aid is dubious. It is interesting and encouraging to note the amount of recent support coming from breeding industries in other countries, notably Britain, and a statement by a European breeders' federation that interference with the incentive would be to the detriment of Europe. The Irish industry provides a service to the breeding industry across Europe. The European Commission must lift its sights and consider this matter strategically.

I regret the attempts to make political capital on this issue. For a long time, the Leader of the Labour Party in the other House, Deputy Rabbitte, seemed to make a living out of it. That is ersatz socialism; I do not regard him as representing any form of serious socialism. However, opposing the tax relief with regard to stallions can give the impression that he is a serious socialist and that his heart is in the right place. The Minister and the Government must consider extremely carefully what they do. This is an industry in which Ireland is a world leader. It has major economic and social benefits for the country and employs many people. An extremely good case can be made to leave well alone, if it is possible. I support the motion.

Mr. Bannon

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. When Senator Mansergh momentarily left the Chamber earlier, I thought he had gone to get his guitar to sing "Congratulations" to the Government.

Dr. Mansergh

It would be well deserved.

Mr. Bannon

The electorate is singing "bye bye Government" and "bye bye Bertie". That is the message I hear as I travel up and down the country.

It is difficult to understand whether this motion is designed as a late attempt for Ireland to host the Olympic Games in 2012, or a pre-Olympic bid to attract visitors and athletes attending the Olympic Games in London to Ireland. It may be the usual Government spin, calculated to confuse and cover up its continual ineptitude and financial mismanagement. I join with my colleagues, Senators Feighan and Phelan, in strongly criticising the €7 million reduction in funding under the sports capital programme for 2005. That is a reduction of 13% on last year, a fact conveniently submerged in this trumpet-blowing motion. As we know, empty vessels make the most noise and lame duck Governments produce the most spin.

The National Aquatic Centre fiasco allied with the electronic voting machine fiasco and the PPARS fiasco, to name but a few, make us fully aware of the Government's financial mismanagement track record. One could almost say there was something poetic and appealing about water dripping through a collapsing swimming pool roof, were it not for the fact that the pool in question has been paid for by the taxes of the hard-working citizens of this country.

The main point of this fiasco is that the simplest question has never been answered by any Minister of this Government, nor did the Minister answer it today. Why was Waterworld UK, a company with virtually no assets and no trading record, selected to run the Abbotstown Aquatic Centre? A total of €62 million has gone down the drain, or perhaps one should say it has dripped into the pool. The only answer possible from my perspective is that it is just one item in the appalling trail of financial disasters which will long be remembered as the hallmark of this Government.

The country's leading sports organisations are becoming increasingly concerned about the Government's delaying tactic in signing off on the national sports centre of excellence also proposed for Abbotstown. That was agreed in principle at Cabinet level last year. Is this yet another broken promise by the Government?

In order for Ireland's elite sports people to compete on a level playing field with their international rivals, they need a national training centre such as that envisaged for Abbotstown. Such a facility could also be a draw to Olympic teams to train in this country and attract some of those travelling to the Olympic Games in London, which would be of great benefit to the Irish economy. However, an empty promise will attract no one and will do nothing for our own top athletes.

No country of comparable wealth gives as little to sporting provisions. Our facilities are non-existent in an international sense and it is amazing to see how well our sports teams have performed on the world stage, despite Government neglect. This motion, which is as self-congratulatory as we have come to expect, lauds the Government's commitment to funding for sports and recreational facilities. The people in my constituency of Longford-Westmeath, who have waited many years for a new and safe swimming pool, should be informed of that. It was promised in 1997, the year that was the start of the world as we know it according to the wording of this motion. The Government would have us believe that year was the start of eight years of plenty for sporting organisations. The figures and facts prove otherwise.

The pool in Longford town is a relic of the 1960s, and if it stands as a monument to Government support for sports and leisure facilities it makes a certain mockery of the claims of this motion. Currently more than 12 sporting organisations throughout Longford-Westmeath are awaiting funding necessary for their facilities. Will the Minister make an announcement on the situation with regard to funding for Longford's swimming pool? It is omitted from the list of 15 projects detailed in the Minister's reply.

Mr. Leyden

Senator Bannon should contact Deputy Peter Kelly.

Mr. Bannon

Someone must be aware of the situation with regard to Longford's swimming pool and this lie must be nailed once and for all. On an occasion when a former Minister with responsibility for sport, Deputy McDaid, was in Longford, he stated to a local elections candidate that it would be delivered within a year. Almost four years have passed since then and it still has not been delivered.

Mr. Leyden

Deputy Kelly will deliver it.

Mr. Bannon

I am conscious of the lack of a Minister in my area of Longford-Westmeath. If there were a Minister in the constituency, it would be delivered.

Mr. Moylan

Is that Senator Bannon's plan?

Mr. Bannon

Funding for our elite athletes is also derisory. We saw the row last year when many top athletes were not provided with funding. Senator Mansergh referred to past Governments. We have more money than at any time in history. We are in the era of the Celtic tiger yet money is not being spent in the appropriate manner on sporting facilities.

Mr. K. Phelan

Deputy Kelly will deliver it.

Mr. Bannon

It was evident last year that the Government had tightened the purse strings of the Irish Sports Council. The Government's record to date on the provision of recreational facilities and youth clubs for teenagers has been dismal. In particular, community-based groups in larger cities and suburbs claim they are frustrated at the shortage of resources to maintain and expand existing youth services. If these services were in place, we would have less crime.

Given the proven correlation between the provision of youth facilities and the reduction in vandalism and drug and alcohol crime among young people, this is inexcusable, especially now when, like every country in the world, we have a youth obesity problem. It was stated earlier that we have 300,000 overweight children countrywide. It is scandalous that only 4% of school time is allotted to physical education, as opposed to 9% in other OECD countries. The simple reason is that recreational facilities are not in place in 90% of our schools.

The key findings of the new study by the Economic and Social Research Institute, published last week in association with the Irish Sports Council, highlights that sport reaps enormous social benefits, comparable to its benefits as physical exercise, and it stressed that this must be recognised in the levels and patterns of investment in sport. We saw the wonderful spirit engendered in this country during the Special Olympics, yet once the euphoria had died down, so too did the Government's commitment to sports funding. I was most disappointed to hear the Minister refer to the 400,000 volunteers. They will be sick to hear that there is full and plenty and that the Government is congratulating itself on funding facilities for young people. Unless they are aligned to the Fianna Fáil or Progressive Democrats parties, most of the volunteers who are working in sport are disgusted and frustrated at the lack of funding.

Senators

Hear, hear.

Mr. Bannon

I am disappointed that capital funding for the Longford swimming pool and leisure project is not listed among the 15 centres gaining funding from the sports capital programme.

Last but by no means least, I congratulate the Longford masters on their fine achievement in winning the all-Ireland final.

Mr. K. Phelan

It is the only all-Ireland Longford will ever win.

Mr. Moylan

Senator Bannon should get real. If he checks with Deputy Kelly, he will inform him of the current position on the Longford swimming pool.

Mr. Bannon

Deputy Kelly is a long time swimming with the birds and Senator Moylan knows that.

Mr. Moylan

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan. I welcome the commitment to sports funding outlined in the speech of the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue. I support the Government motion. There are many facets to what can and cannot be done in certain areas. Other speakers referred to problems arising and the issue of fitness levels among young people. A significant number of facilities are in place. It is not always necessary to spend a great deal of money to ensure those facilities are utilised and can make a major contribution to people's lives.

Many speakers have focused on young people. We must examine the fact that in so many towns, school gymnasia are closed at 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. in the evening and no access is provided to the local community. This must change. Local people must get access to those facilities. Previous speakers referred to boredom among young people. There is no reason for any young person to feel bored. A considerable number of voluntary organisations do an excellent job to ensure that those young people who want to participate in sports can do so. They must be given encouragement to get involved in sport by their parents and also their peers.

Many speakers referred to the GAA and the tremendous facility at Croke Park. The GAA has also provided facilities in every town and parish in the country. These projects have been assisted by lottery funding. In many areas, local lotteries are run to make a contribution to GAA, soccer and rugby clubs. No matter to which political party they belong, the people involved in those organisations work as volunteers. We must recognise their outstanding contribution to encouraging young people to get involved in sport. There is an onus on everyone, regardless of whether he or she is involved in politics, to make a contribution to ensure young people have an opportunity to play whatever sports or games they like at local level.

A significant number of minority sports have been grant aided through lottery funding. That must be recognised and appreciated. The Government must look at some of the smaller sporting bodies that will encourage and give young people an opportunity to participate in other sports. Athletics is not a minority sport but it is one that does not require a great deal of finance for people to participate in it. It is a valuable sport in terms of allowing people to keep fit for life. Clay pigeon shooting has become popular in recent years with young people. Some of the people involved would not have had much of an interest in sports but young people are now competing at a high level internationally in the sport. We must support more of them. Scuba diving has also become a very popular sport. A hidden benefit to participation in this sport is that when drowning accidents, unfortunately, occur, these people make themselves available to carry out search and rescue operations. All these sporting endeavours require support.

Reference was made earlier to swimming pools. The Minister outlined the substantial funding allocated to swimming pools. We must support the right of every pupil in primary schools to learn how to swim. Perhaps it should be compulsory. Those facilities should be accessible to everyone, if not in every town they should be available in an adjoining town. Tennis and handball are two other minority sports. I met a group yesterday from Tullamore that was seeking funding for skateboarding facilities. One might ask why. I was in Galway during the summer holidays and noticed very good skateboarding facilities provided near the cathedral. I assume they were provided by either Galway County Council or Galway Corporation. The number of young people enjoying themselves at the facilities was unbelievable. We must consider giving such young people further opportunities in this area if that is what they want.

Other Ministers have made moneys available to provide playgrounds for children. In this regard, we talk about obesity and the opportunities young people have to go to playgrounds. In the past there were problems with playgrounds because of children hurting themselves and the associated insurance claims. However, the facilities in playgrounds are now of a very high standard such that very few accidents occur. Playgrounds are now surfaced with soft board-type flooring. We must make more such playgrounds available.

Other Senators have mentioned walking and the availability of footpaths. Local authorities have a lot to answer for in this regard. Housing developments are being built and major contributions are being paid by developers but county managers or local authority members are not ensuring that adequately lit link footpaths are put in place such that people in towns and villages can walk safely thereon at night rather than on the public roads. We must consider this issue very seriously.

There are many demands being made but we welcome the amount of money that has been allocated in recent years. I support the previous speakers on the Government side and thank Senator Kieran Phelan, our spokesperson on tourism and sport, for moving this motion. I thank the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism for what the Government has done regarding the provision of sports and recreational facilities.

Mr. U. Burke

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, to the House. I support the amendment to the motion, as tabled by Senator Feighan on behalf of the Fine Gael Party.

The motion states, "acknowledges sport was first given a seat at the Cabinet table back in 1997". When one reflects on this, one can say we have had since then a Minister with responsibility for sport at the Cabinet table for the first time, but we must question what we have to show for it. In this year alone, there has been a €7 million reduction in the grant to the Irish Sports Council, yet speakers from the other side of the House have said a wonderful job has been done.

The Minister used the favourite trick of many Ministers under pressure — he compared current expenditure to that of 1997. We know the expenditure in 1997 but the reality is that we are talking about a different era in which there is a different amount of money available to the Government. Were it not for the fact that there has been such a waste of funds, I would say the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism had adequate resources to make a positive impact in terms of providing facilities to young people. If one listens to gardaí at any community meeting, one will note they always say the first priority is to address the lack of facilities for young people. They have no place to go other than to the pub where they waste their time.

Where facilities exist, they are not available to the young people because of the high cost of insurance. Many committees throughout the country have, on a voluntary basis, provided facilities through collecting money in whatever way they could. They ask the Government for matching funds or any funds with which to run them but they are told to wait until the following year.

An examination of circumstances throughout the west of Ireland, where most of the grants have ceased to be allocated, is a clear indication that the Minister has used the funds of the national lottery as a slush fund. This charge has been made for years. There was a time when the funds went to Kildare predominantly but we now see that the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism has allocated more than his fair share to Kerry. While this continues to happen, there will be inequality in the provision of resources for the youth.

How many national schools throughout the country have proper physical education facilities? Few do despite the fact that the Department of Education and Science has paid lip service to this issue by claiming additional resources and facilities must be provided for primary schools so kids can be given a proper physical education. The reality is that the OECD has clearly said that Ireland is towards the bottom of a list of 27 or 28 OECD countries in a table outlining national provision in this area. Ireland has a figure of less than 4% while the national average in the other countries is nearly 10%. How can we justify the Government's position on sports funding given that we have had plenty of resources available to us?

This morning in the House I indicated that the Minister has failed miserably to spend money. That is unusual for this Government. We charge it with having wasted money in a series of projects, including those associated with sports facilities, yet some €50 million was returned to the European Union because the Minister failed to nominate a worthy project on which it could be spent along the western seaboard, either on tourism or a sports-related project. This is a damning indictment of a Minister who sits at the Cabinet table and we need say no more about his commitment to sports and sports facilities.

Will the Minster of State relay to the Minister that he should, in conjunction with his colleague the Minister for Education and Science, formally and finally put together a scheme whereby every national school, rural and urban, disadvantaged and otherwise, would be treated equally with regard to the provision of facilities and resources such that a meaningful physical education system can be provided for young children at school? Such a scheme does not exist. Even where facilities do exist, insufficient time is allowed in the curriculum for teachers to participate adequately in helping young children to enjoy physical education, as should be the case.

Consider what is happening in the country today with regard to the GAA. Without the voluntary contribution of many such bodies outside the schools, what would happen the general population of young people? Despite the fact that some 300,000 of them suffer from obesity, this figure would rise to 1 million or more in a short time. Teachers nowadays are literally afraid to take children out because of the fear of an accident, the sense of responsibility and the insurance claims that may follow. The Minister of State with responsibility for sport and the Minister for Education and Science must tackle that problem. Where there are community or other sporting facilities to which people have access, the Government should think of a scheme to either support or exempt them from insurance cover and rates. This might encourage physical education programmes to be put in place within such structures at any time of the year, particularly in winter when young people can be taken off the streets and enjoy such facilities during the long dark evenings.

The tabling of this motion on sport would indicate Government Members were afraid to touch health, the environment and other matters. They did a bad day's work for their party and the Government.

Debate adjourned.