Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 2

Written Answers. - Sports Funding.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

243 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the reason the Mountaineering Council of Ireland's application to his Department in respect of funding for the 1998 Irish K2 expedition has been refused; and the reason the new criteria for funding to national governing bodies has resulted in a refusal for this event. [26875/98]

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

244 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the criteria under which an application made by the Mountaineering Council of Ireland for the 1998 Irish K2 expedition was rejected; and if he has satisfied himself that, in the making of decisions, the Irish Sports Council is not laying too much emphasis on competitive sport with the consequent neglect of participation in sport. [26876/98]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together.

Following a sustained process of detailed, close consultation with the national governing bodies of sport — NGBs — a new simplified and streamlined application format, together with new criteria, were introduced in respect of funding for 1998. This new procedure is soundly based on the development of a better planned, more strategic approach to the development of the organisations themselves and to the development of their sports.

Earlier this year, the Mountaineering Council of Ireland submitted their 1998 application for funding in the new format, incorporating a request for funding for the K2 expedition under the heading of international competition and training. The purpose for which the Irish Sports Council recommended allocations under the international competition and training heading i.e. to enable NGBs to participate in such training and competition which contributes to a clearly defined progressive pathway towards improved international rankings and world class performances by participating members, is clearly set out in my Department's FOI Act 1997, section 15 and 16 reference book.

In the view of the council, mountaineering expeditions do not qualify for funding under this heading, as the participants are not competing against other international competitors, there is no ranking system, national or international, for the sport nor can performances by the mountaineers be critically judged or classed.

I can, however, assure the Deputy that noncompetitive, recreational sport is a key priority of my Department and of the Irish Sports Council. In fact, the new application format for NGBs includes a section on recreational sport, which will help encourage and enable these organisations to develop and promote initiatives and programmes in this crucial area of sport. In addition the Irish Sports Council Bill, 1998, proposes that the council will have a specific function to develop strategies for increasing participation in recreational sport.