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Sports Funding.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2005

Tuesday, 8 February 2005

Questions (269)

Seamus Healy

Question:

322 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will approve the roll-out of the sports partnerships scheme to allow the Irish Sports Council to approve new applications, including the application from South Tipperary Vocational Education Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3552/05]

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Written answers

As the Deputy is aware, the Irish Sports Council is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including initiatives to promote sport in local areas. The provision in funding for the Irish Sports Council in the 2005 Estimates is more than €34 million, in comparison to slightly more than €13 million in 2000.

The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness committed the Government to the introduction of local sport partnerships to help promote and develop sport at local level. In its first strategy document, A New Era for Irish Sport 2000-2002, the Irish Sports Council included the establishment of local sports partnerships as one of its main priorities. The Sports Council, following the receipt of proposals from local bodies, approved and funded the establishment of eight partnerships in May 2001 and a further four were established in early 2002. These are located in Clare, Donegal, Fingal, Kildare, Laois, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary North, Cork, Limerick, Meath and Waterford.

At my Department's request the Sports Council commissioned a review of the operation of four of the original eight partnerships. Following the completion and consideration of this review, I gave approval in 2003 to the Irish Sports Council to extend the network of local sports partnerships by a further four, bringing the total number of local sports partnerships to 16. The four partnerships in question have been established and are located in Kerry, Westmeath, Kilkenny and Mayo. A sum of €2.45 million has been allocated to the local sports partnerships in 2005. Since 2001, a total of more than €9 million has been allocated to the local sports partnerships by the Irish Sports Council.

My Department is in the process of engaging consultants to carry out an independent appraisal and review of the entire local partnership process to obtain confirmation that this element of sport policy continues to have an impact at local level. The question of extending the partnerships to further areas will be considered in light of the outcome of that appraisal.

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