I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 34, 51 and 54 together.
Last year my Department provided funding to 75 national governing bodies to assist them in the development of their sport, including the critical element of providing a safe, secure and positive environment for children. The Department is currently awaiting receipt of their applications for financial assistance towards the cost of activities planned for the coming year.
A Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children's Sport in Ireland, developed by a specially established expert committee under the auspices of the Department of Education, was published in June 1996 and issued to all the governing bodies of sport. The code provides detailed guidelines and assistance for sports organisations in the proper treatment of children in sport.
The National Coaching and Training Centre, having specific regard to the code, subsequently incorporated a module on ethics in sport in its ongoing national coaching development programme which is run in partnership with the governing bodies.
It is planned to hold a seminar later this year involving the governing bodies which will include a review of their experience to date with the implementation of the code. In the interim, while the code of ethics is widely regarded as a model of best practice for the protection of children in sport, I propose to reconvene the expert group which compiled the code to consider the need for further additions to the code in the light of the report of Dr. Roderick Murphy into child sex abuse issues in swimming.