asked the Minister for Education if it is Government policy to require national governing bodies of sport to make alterations to their constitutions in order to admit to their administrative structures non-elected nominees of agencies associated with her Department as a prerequisite to obtaining administration grant aid from national lottery funds or other public moneys and if she will clarify current Government policy towards voluntary sports administrators and towards the traditional autonomy and independence of national governing bodies of sport.
Written Answers. - National Governing Bodies of Sport Funding.
193.
To be recognised as a national governing body of sport for grant aid purposes a sporting organisation must possess a written constitution which is acceptable to the Department of Education. I am not aware of any occasions where a governing body of sport has been directed to alter its constitution for the purposes outlined by the Deputy.
My Department's policy for sport includes the allocation of funds to national governing bodies of sport from the proceeds of the national lottery for expenditure in the areas of coaching, administration, equipment and special projects. My Department have always respected and will continue to respect the independence and autonomy of these organisations.