Other Questions.
6 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the extent to which his support for the promotion of arts, sport and tourism is reflected in financial allocation by or from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40846/06]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 2, which I answered a short time ago. In that reply, I outlined in considerable detail the 2007 Estimates allocations and priorities of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. I will illustrate the significant financial support the Government has given the arts, sport and tourism sectors. In 2003, which was the first full year of operation of the new Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Department's current and capital provisions were €278.781 million and €120.73 million, respectively. Following significant increases in the intervening years, the figures for 2007 are €399.759 million and €298.842 million, respectively, representing increases of 43.4% and 147.5% on the 2003 figures. I will cite some significant examples of the Government's financial support for the sectors under my remit. The total funding given to the Arts Council will increase by 52% in just four years, from €52.5 million in 2004 to €80 million in 2007. The total funding given to the Irish Sports Council in 2000, which was its first full year of operation, was €13.5 million, whereas its total budget for 2007 will be more than €49 million. The tourism marketing fund, which amounted to €18 million in 2000, now stands at €40 million and will increase further to €45 million in 2007.
I propose to draw Deputy Durkan's attention to some examples of the Government's investment in capital projects and programmes. It has provided €191 million towards the redevelopment of the Lansdowne Road stadium. It has offered financial support for the development of local, regional and national sports facilities, including public swimming pools, which have been allocated over €430 million between 2003 and 2007. The Government has decided to proceed with the construction of a national conference centre, through a public private partnership process. The National Concert Hall and the national theatre are being redeveloped. The Government has committed €119 million towards the provision of the sports campus at Abbotstown. Members will agree that these figures, which speak for themselves, demonstrate beyond doubt the Government's immense support for these sectors.
I thank the Minister for his reply. I tabled Question No. 6 to ascertain the full extent of the Minister's commitment to his various areas of responsibility. I was particularly keen to get information about the arts, to which Deputy Deenihan referred in the context of a previous question. I have had difficulty getting such information in the past. I compliment the Minister on the work that has been done in the areas of sport and recreation. Such work was needed in my constituency as a result of the increases in population. Can the Minister indicate how he intends to promote the arts among young people and local communities? In many cases, local community groups, musical societies and drama societies in my constituency and in every other part of the country have no permanent base and have to make applications to the Arts Council for funding. The response they receive is that the resources are not there to meet the requirements. Will the Minister look favourably at developing communities in the satellite towns in the eastern region? Will he give recognition to those communities with a view to specific promotion of the arts? In view of the likely increase of the population in the future, will he specifically identify a programme whereby the development and provision of facilities for the arts can be promoted in a positive way? Can that be done through the Arts Council?
Gross expenditure in arts and culture in 2007 rose from €198.7 million to €216.56 million. There has been an 11% increase in the Arts Council budget to €80 million, which was the amount sought.
The Minister for Education and Science and I have set up a committee to look at the question of the arts in education. This committee is examining how we can influence the school curriculum to promote the arts. I anticipate that this report should be with us by next summer and I hope that it will receive the same level of attention as the report of the traditional arts committee. In that case, funding was immediately committed to the promotion of the traditional arts and there is now a coherent strategy for traditional arts in this country. Through the co-operation that we have already received from the Minister for Education and Science, I hope that we would be in a position to have a far greater involvement in nurturing the arts among young people. The obvious way to do this is through the education process. I look forward to receiving the report of the committee, which was set up under the Arts Act 2003.
We recently announced ACCESS II to refurbish, restore and build new arts centres around the country. Following on from ACCESS I, when more than €45 million was spent on these initiatives, this will represent a further advance in the provision of arts infrastructure.
I thank the Minister for his reply. He is on the right track. Unfortunately, two groups in my constituency are expecting assistance in the areas to which I referred. These groups promote the arts by putting on shows, plays and musicals and they often have to congregate for practice in unsuitable accommodation. The work being done so far by the Minister is fine, but he needs to direct where the money should go, with particular reference to the need to encourage upcoming groups in the areas of new and expanding population.
The Minister is correct on the educational aspect of the arts. Unfortunately, we are not really responding to the accommodation needs of education. However, the arts and education are complementary and it would be very beneficial to the communities concerned if he pursued the line I outlined.
There is no denying that there is a paucity of facilities in many parts of the country and that this gap needs to be addressed, not least in County Kildare. I sincerely hope that we receive applications from County Kildare under ACCESS II which will be worthy of support. There is no doubt that further facilities are required. We made a start under ACCESS I and in addition to that, almost €53 million has been awarded to other capital projects in 2004, 2005 and 2006. We are beginning to provide relatively good facilities in communities, but there is still some way to go.
7 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will report on the progress made in carrying out a national audit of sports facilities and services; if this audit will be completed by June 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40835/06]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 5 on this topic.
I was not here for that reply, but I will ask a question on the assumption that the reply given was what I anticipated. The programme for Government in 2002 suggested that a nationwide audit of sports facilities would be a priority within this Government's term of office. It now appears that this audit will not be completed by the next general election. In essence, the programme for Government has not been met and the Minister will go before the electorate without having carried out the audit as promised.
Is the Minister aware that audits have been successfully carried out in major cities across the UK? This has enabled them to target the type of sporting investment that is needed to promote sport among young people. In the absence of a proper audit of sports facilities, we are throwing away money and not giving a good opportunity in life to our children.
Deputy Gogarty has raised this issue on a number of occasions. A working group has been established to oversee the detailed work of the audit. The group held a number of meetings.
It will not be finished before next June.
The sub-group has decided that the audit will be undertaken in a number of places to speed up the availability of information. The experience in the North was that an audit of this nature could take up to two and a half years. Work is under way and we want a long-term strategic plan for the provision of sports facilities throughout the country. As part of that process, a national audit of local sports facilities is under way.
Does the Minister agree that the groups that will do poorly in an audit are in locations that have been subject to recent development? Deputy Gogarty's constituency and mine are examples of that. With the time lag involved, we must play catch-up as a consequence.
Was an audit of facilities carried out by the sports partnerships? Is there a deal of information out there already? The last reply I got to this question was that it would be a difficult process and that national facilities would be audited first, followed by regional and local facilities. However, local facilities have the most direct impact on communities. It often takes a while for a community to be developed enough to raise the matching funding, which creates its own time lag.
I agree with the Deputy that facilities are still required in many parishes across the country. That is why we are continuing with the sports capital programme as aggressively as possible. The reason the audit is taking such a time is the amount of work involved. All the facilities across the country have to be included in the audit. They include not just key national facilities but, for example, GAA grounds, rugby and soccer grounds, university sports campuses, local authority sport centres, synthetic athletic tracks and swimming pools, as well as facilities in primary and post-primary schools. In addition there are the facilities which have benefited under the sports capital programme. One has to identify as well facilities provided by voluntary organisations as well as those available in the community generally which might have received grant assistance from other Departments.
We are conducting the audit in two phases and trying to complete it as quickly as we can while obtaining as much information as possible on key national and regional facilities. I have indicated to Deputy Wall in reply to an earlier question on the London Olympics in 2012 that we are dealing with that separately and distinctly.
Will the Minister say whether a financial or a staffing problem is preventing the audit from being done as quickly as it could be?
We have only so many staff to carry out a function such as this. Naturally, if we had a plethora of people, it could be done more quickly. We have to operate within our resources, using the staff that are available to us. We are doing this as quickly as we can.
8 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will expand on his recent comments that the difficulties between the Irish Rugby Football Union and Wanderers Rugby Club regarding the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road represents a family dispute; his views on the fact that if this dispute is not resolved in the near future, the redevelopment of the stadium will be delayed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40820/06]
View answer16 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the situation regarding the planned redevelopment of Lansdowne Road; when he expects An Bord Pleanála to approve the redevelopment of the stadium; when construction work will begin; if any issues remain outstanding in regard to the planning process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40819/06]
View answer23 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of money that will be allocated by his Department towards the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road in 2007; the way this money will be spent; the amount of the funding for the redevelopment of the stadium that has been provided by the Government to date; the further amount he anticipates will be allocated in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40818/06]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 16 and 23 together.
As the House is aware, in January 2004, the Government agreed to provide funding of €191 million, phased over five years, to the joint IRFU-FAI project for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road as a 50,000-seat stadium. The estimated total cost of the project is €365 million and the IRFU and FAI will provide the balance of €174 million. Expenditure to date on the project amounts to €18.94 million. I am satisfied that I will have ample funds in my Vote to meet both the current and capital needs of the stadium project in 2007.
On 31 July 2006, Dublin City Council granted planning permission for the project, subject to a number of conditions which can be accommodated without undue difficulty. A number of appeals against the granting of planning permission have been lodged by local residents and An Bord Pleanála has indicated that it will hold an oral hearing commencing on 11 December next. Following the oral hearing, An Bord Pleanála will issue a decision which I am hopeful will enable the project to proceed early in 2007.
Once construction commences, the estimated period for completion is 29 months. The newly developed Lansdowne Road will finally bring the stadium facilities into the 21st century and the Irish rugby and soccer squads will have a worthy platform on which they can showcase themselves and Ireland to the world, and from which they can develop and build on the progress they have already achieved.
As to current issues between the IRFU and Wanderers Rugby Club, I have said previously that the dispute is entirely a matter which must be resolved within the rugby family. I do not intend to intervene or comment extensively on the matter. It is clear that ultimately the issues must be resolved between the parties directly involved. Discussions are ongoing and it is a time for cool heads and sound reason. I am confident that a solution will be found and that the dispute will not delay the redevelopment of the stadium.
I am very hopeful that by the end of 2009 we will see the completion of the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road stadium, which will cater for the international rugby and soccer requirements of the IRFU and FAI. I look forward to the completion of this much-needed new stadium, which will be a welcome flagship facility for rugby and soccer.
I thank the Minister for his reply. He has stated on previous occasions that this is a family dispute, but these have a tendency to drag on longer than anything else within the regulatory system. It will obviously involve this particular project, An Bord Pleanála, etc. Is this not something that should be put to bed as quickly as possible? Perhaps the Minister, through his Department, can provide a facilitator who will allow the dispute to be mediated once and for all so that we may look forward to the project going through the regulatory agencies and see the commencement of the Lansdowne Road refurbishment project in 2007.
I sincerely hope the issue can be resolved by negotiation. If it cannot be resolved by negotiation, then I hope it can be resolved by both sides committing to arbitration. Talks between the two parties have been going on for nearly a year and a half.
The offer on the table from the IRFU seems to be quite fair. I understand it includes a replacement fully-equipped club house within the existing grounds, a grant to include the Wanderers' Merrion Road club house and grounds and financial compensation for loss of income to cover the period when the club would not have the use of the stadium during reconstruction. There is also to be an extension of the current licence agreement for the lifespan of the new stadium, complimentary use of a hospitality suite — although this has been withdrawn — and an allocation of tickets for matches. The IRFU has been more than fair and accommodating in trying to come to terms with Wanderers Rugby Club. I am very disappointed that Wanderers continues to be recalcitrant.
I understand this will not hold up the planning process, but could pose difficulties in a few years when it comes to the opening of the new stadium. Will the Minister contemplate the immediate appointment of a mediator to resolve this matter? I am sure it could be resolved rather easily at this stage if an independent arbitrator were involved.
The IRFU has requested that the issue should go to negotiation or arbitration — and negotiations have taken place. My understanding is that the deadline for negotiations was Tuesday, 28 November. I am not up to date on precisely what has happened. If the final offer cannot be accepted, then it seems the best way is arbitration. However, arbitration is something that must be accepted by both sides to the dispute. I sincerely hope arbitration will take place if negotiations do not resolve the issue.
It is also regrettable that Wanderers has chosen to put this matter into the public domain. That was never my wish nor that of the IRFU.
9 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will make additional funds available to the Special Olympics in view of the recent presentation by the CEO to the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport and Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40880/06]
View answerI am happy to place on record the high regard in which both I and my Government colleagues hold Special Olympics Ireland. The programmes which are implemented by the organisation for people with intellectual disabilities have a profoundly positive impact on families and communities. Since 1999, Special Olympics Ireland has received core funding of €4 million from the Irish Sports Council towards the costs of its activities, including almost €600,000 this year.
The Deputy will be aware that Special Olympics Ireland recently made a submission to the Government on the development and funding of the Special Olympics programme over the next three years. Subsequently, its representatives met with officials of my Department to elaborate on their submission, which is being given the fullest consideration in consultation with other Government Departments.
I remind the Minister that Special Olympics Ireland looks after 11,000 athletes in 12 sports, in 402 clubs, supported by hundreds of community organisations throughout Ireland, with 18,000 volunteers. The perception is that Special Olympics Ireland is an event driven organisation, in that it organised the 2003 world games, but that is not the case. It is involved in training and coaching, providing facilities for 33% of all the young people with special needs in this country.
We were all very quick to jump on the bandwagon in 2003. It was very high profile, politically speaking. Politicians appeared on platforms all over Ireland, some to support, others no doubt to get cheap publicity.
However, Special Olympics Ireland only received 13.8% of its funding from Government sources. This is a derisory amount when one considers the effort put in by the people involved. Working with children with special needs is highly demanding and challenging and while it is also highly rewarding, it differs from working with children in mainstream athletics. The organisation has made a special application to the Government for an average of €3.3 million every year for the next five years. Next year, it needs this money to go to China and it also requires such funds in the future to develop its programmes. Will the Minister make a special case to the Cabinet to ensure the organisation will receive this funding?
I am unaware of any politician who seeks cheap publicity arising from the Special Olympics. At the time, the Government provided an allocation of almost €14 million towards the hosting of the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Ireland. This was in addition to capital grants under the sports capital programme of €21 million to assist in the upgrading of a number of sports facilities that hosted various events during the course of the games.
In addition, the Irish Sports Council has been highly supportive of Special Olympics Ireland and is fully cognisant of the great contribution it makes to Irish sport and society in general. It appreciates that Special Olympics Ireland makes an enormous contribution to the voluntary sector and has, in the past three years, following on the highly successful Special Olympics World Summer Games, put its money where its mouth is by increasing the number of athletes by 28%. Since 2000, it has increased this number by 107%.
In previous years the council has made contributions to the cost both of the national competition and training camps for the Special Olympics. These contributions have been in the region of 33% of the total costs and have been in respect of smaller events such as the winter games and the European games. In 2007 the costs of competing in Shanghai will be substantially higher and the council will again seek to make a contribution towards these costs.
The Irish Sports Council may be open to an increase in funding towards the core activities of Special Olympics Ireland. However, it is not in favour of allocating specific funding for performance planning similar to that provided to its Olympic and Paralympic counterparts.
The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism has written to other Departments, including the Departments of Health and Children, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Education and Science to ascertain whether they will come up with funding as part of fulfilling the request from the Special Olympics Ireland organisation. In general, it will be recognised and acknowledged that the Government makes real efforts to support Special Olympics Ireland. I hope it will be in a position to help it with its latest submission.
Specifically, a large team comprising 200 athletes plus coaches and trainers will travel to China in 2007 for the world games. Special Olympics Ireland has made a request to the Government to provide at least €1.5 million, in order to take one of the largest groups of athletes ever to represent Ireland. Will the Minister accede to this request today? Will he ask the Minister for Finance to include this allocation in the budget?
As the organisation is aware, I have never been found wanting with regard to Special Olympics Ireland and to be fair, neither has the Minister for Finance. I do not anticipate that either the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism under my aegis, or the Minister for Finance will be found wanting in respect of the validated needs of Special Olympics Ireland. However, like all submissions, it must be considered in depth and must be examined and validated.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
