I am raising this matter on the Adjournment because I believe a genuine mistake has been made and I am asking the Minister of State at the Department of Education to correct the error. I believe a mistake has been made because of an answer given in this House last Tuesday, 3 June, to a question I tabled some time ago. I put down the question when I read in the national newspapers of the allocations that had been made by the Minister of State at the Department of Education to various centres for sport complexes. I was dismayed to find that Dungarvan was not among the centres listed. Over the past three years I have raised this matter in the House at Question Time and on each occasion I was told that no funds were available for such a sports complex in Dungarvan. Last Tuesday I asked the Minister for Education if he would make a grant available for the proposed sports complex at Dungarvan, County Waterford, to which Deputy Tunney replied:
The only application received in my Department for assistance towards the provision of a sports complex in Dungarvan was dated 14 April 1980 and it related to a project for the use of the employees of a particular firm, their families and near relatives. It was not received in time for consideration in connection with the projects being selected for assistance. It would not have qualified for such assistance because of the limitations on its usage.
I appreciate that such a complex would not be accepted if it were merely for one firm and their families but the original application for a grant was made in March 1972. At that time Waterford County Council, Dungarvan Urban District Council and the County Waterford Vocational Education Committee got together to set up a sub-committee with members drawn from each of those bodies so as to develop a multi-purpose sports complex in Dungarvan. It was proposed to locate this complex at Ringnasilogue on property owned by Dungarvan Urban District Council. In March 1973 the Department of Education in their official letter No. F 35/7/6 authorised and conveyed sanction to the County Waterford Vocational Education Committee to commission a professional feasibility report on the provision of a recreational and physical education centre for West Waterford to be based in Dungarvan. In September 1973 the survey was prepared by Messrs. O'Sullivan and Partners, architects, Tralee, County Kerry, who were architects to the Tralee multi-purpose sports complex. When completed this survey was presented to the Vocational Education Committee. In July 1974 officials of the Department of Education met the CEO of the Waterford VEC and informed him that it would be necessary to obtain a contribution of 30 per cent from the post-primary schools in the town in connection with the development of the sports complex. The post-primary schools in the town have either just completed major developments or are carrying out major developments at present and these major developments were being mooted at that time. Saint Augustine's College is newly built and has extensive recreational facilities. The other schools involved are the Christian Brother schools, the Presentation Convent schools and the Mercy Convent schools all of which are building on large extensions and are not in a position to contribute the 30 per cent required.
In August 1974 a letter from the Department of Education authorised the VEC to retain Messrs. O'Sullivan and Partners to make a line drawing of the proposed multi-purpose sports hall in conjunction with the overall plans which had been presented. That plan has been prepared but since then the sub-committee and the CEO of the VEC have heard nothing on the project. That might be because the schools could not, because of their other commitments, come up with the contribution requested. However, if the Department showed a willingness to give a major grant such as has been given to other centres, the necessary local contribution would have been forthcoming. The major firms in the town and surrounding areas are willing to make major contributions. As well as that the trade union movements and the trade union council have given such a sports complex their full backing and are prepared to engage the support of their members. Will the Minister of State seriously reconsider the question of a grant for such a sports complex in Dungarvan?
The nearest sports complex recently grant-aided is in Ballybeg in Waterford city which is 30 miles from Dungarvan and 50 or 60 miles from areas which Dungarvan would cater for. County Waterford is geographically structured so that Waterford city is at the apex of an isosceles triangle. I am sure the Minister can imagine how far removed from Waterford are the portions of the county at the base of that triangle and how they could not benefit from a sports complex based in the city. Dungarvan is somewhat west of centre in the county and is an ideal location for such a complex. If any money is available it should be directed towards this project.
I understand that the tripartite committee which was set up last year as part of the national understanding allocated £8 million to the Minister's Department primarily for projects such as this and for youth employment schemes and that £5 million of that £8 million have now been allocated for sports complexes which vary in size. Some of them would cost in the region of £200,000, some will cost £100,000 and some will cost less than that. I understand that 60 locations throughout the country are earmarked for these moneys. What is causing annoyance in County Waterford is the fact that some of those projects were only presented to the Minister as late as last year. With all the planning and work that has gone into this complex, starting as long ago as eight years, it is understandable that people are quite upset about this. This centre would cater for some 30,000 people. That is a sizeable number of people and they are certainly in need of a major recreational centre. There has been a vast increase in employment in that area particularly in Dungarvan in the past ten years due to the advent of Waterford Glass, which is a major factory employing 500 young people. A number of smaller industries were set up and some others are planned in the immediate future. The growth in population has been quite considerable. I am sorry to say that the growth in recreational facilities has been virtually nil and voluntary effort has endeavoured, through local youth clubs, to fill the void. They cannot succeed because the type of money they get is only peanuts when considered with what is needed.
There is clear indication that there is need for such a centre. I am asking, in as nice a way as possible, that Dungarvan be given first priority if any of the the £5 million which has been allocated is not spent. As usual with such major schemes where there are so many projects outlined some will fall by the wayside due to lack of local commitment or lack of local funds. We would be only too glad to avail of any such money, preferably in the £200,000 category. The project planned and presented by the architects would require in excess of that sum. The statutory bodies, voluntary bodies and local industry in the town can be depended on to meet the proportion of local contribution which is demanded by the Department.
Dungarvan Urban Council allocated a site for the proposed sports complex. That site is still there. It was earmarked for a sports complex and has never been used for anything else nor will it be. The ground work has been done and I should like the Minister to reciprocate by providing the grant in question.