Bernard Allen
Ceist:330 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will make a statement on the level of funding for sport in 1998. [21933/97]
Written Answers. - Sports Funding.
I welcome the allocation for sports programmes in my Department's Vote for 1998 inclusive of funding announced in the recent budget. The 1998 allocation represents an increase of 95 per cent or almost double the provision in the corresponding 1997 allocation. The additional funding will allow my Department to achieve significant progress in the coming year.
I am obviously very pleased at the 80 per cent increase in the level of funding for the schemes under the sports capital programme which will enable me to increase grant payments to £9 million in 1998 to sports clubs and other voluntary organisations for the provision and upgrading of new and existing sports and recreational facilities.
In addition to these moneys, my Vote will include provision for the payment of £7 million next year to the GAA. As my colleague the Minster for Finance announced in his Budget Statement, this will be part of a £20 million grant commitment over the next three years towards the GAA's major redevelopment plans for Croke Park.
I am also very pleased with the increase of over 20 per cent on the 1997 Estimate provision for current expenditure on sports activities. This increase will provide improved support for high performance athletes, emerging young sports men and women and the national governing bodies of sport. It will also allow for the introduction of an anti-doping initiative in sport and the targeting of sports initiatives at young people in identified areas of disadvantage. This work will be facilitated by the setting up of the Sports Council on a statutory basis.