Sports Facilities Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 October 2013

Tuesday, 1 October 2013

Questions (94)

Sandra McLellan

Question:

94. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had any discussion with the Department of Education and Skills regarding the potential for using that Department’s capital building programme as an opportunity to increase the provision of sporting facilities in local communities, in particular youth sports facilities, through co-location of sports facilities with educational campuses; if he envisages that savings could be made to his Department's capital expenditure in that regard; if he will outline those savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40890/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Michael Ring)

I have had no discussions with the Department of Education and Skills regarding the issue raised by the Deputy. Schools are eligible to apply for funding under the Sports Capital Programme when they apply jointly with local sports and community groups.  Under the 2012 round of the Programme, schools that showed that they were sharing facilities with local groups, through formal licence agreements, were awarded extra marks at initial assessment stage.  This incentive encourages maximising the use of facilities both inside and outside of school hours.  Facilities being developed by schools do sometimes use grant monies from both Departments to provide bigger and better sports facilities than would otherwise be possible with only one Department's funding. As the Sports Capital Programme is always heavily oversubscribed I cannot see how the Deputy's suggestion would result in any savings.