Vol. 409 No. 8
6 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she has any plans to provide some form of assistance towards running costs to clubs, particularly football clubs, on an annual basis in view of the valuable social service they provide in many areas in Dublin; and if national lottery funds can be made available for this purpose.
My Department already provide financial assistance on an annual basis to youth and sports clubs in the Dublin area from national lottery funding towards their running costs. This assistance is provided through the Department's youth service grant scheme, the City of Dublin VEC, the County Dublin VEC and the Borough of Dún Laoghaire VEC.
Would the Minister agree that because of the introduction of the national lottery a lot of the smaller clubs catering for youth, particularly in certain areas of Dublin and other urban areas, are being deprived of fund raising opportunities because the money is just not there? Will the Minister agree that it is time we increased the allocation for clubs performing a social service by looking after young children in certain urban areas and ensuring they get a reasonable amount of money towards maintenance costs from national lottery funds? I accept that there is a scheme, but the amounts given are very small and are not enough to meet day-to-day running costs. In many cases these costs have to be borne by families who cannot afford them. The clubs will just fold up.
I accept that clubs have major difficulties in raising money but there is no evidence to suggest that this is a result of the national lottery. I take the point that clubs are short of money, but a very considerable amount is being made available through the national lottery towards both current and capital expenditure by clubs. Given the need for lottery funding in several areas of State expenditure, a reasonable amount of money is being provided.
Would the Minister consider reviewing the scheme so that in certain areas where help is most needed the allocation might be increased in order to maintain clubs?
I would wish to be able to provide much more money for clubs in areas of disadvantage. The fact remains that we do provide much more money to clubs in disadvantaged areas than to clubs in other areas. I accept that the amounts provided are not enough, but we have been very careful to ensure that most of the money is spent in disadvantaged areas in Dublin and other cities.
The question relates to the Dublin area. Would the Minister not agree that any changes would have to be introduced in the context of the national scene? Clubs are having extreme difficulty with normal fund raising activities. I accept that money is paid to VECs but the system of distribution does not help clubs which encounter crises. Such crises can often occur as a result of success when teams succeed in competitions to a late stage or when national champions emerge from a boxing club. This is becoming a crisis. A scheme should be introduced to cater for the legitimate and unexpected financial needs of clubs which provide for young people on a wide basis.
I will always be aware that the country is larger than the Pale. Areas outside Dublin will be given consideration. I agree that there is a need for much more money for clubs but there is not a demand from the other parties or from the public at large to put money into sport. That is a particular difficulty I have in putting a case to Government for more money. Deputy Barrett's Leader has proposed recently that the lottery funds be raided and the money put into the health services.
For one year.
The public at large, despite our passion for sport, do not see expenditure on sport as a priority.
