Written Answers. - Sports Capital Programme.
Ivor Callely
Ceist:
258
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
the refurbishment works to be carried out at Tolka Park from the allocation under the 1999 sports capital programme; the additional monies Tolka Park will require; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11415/00]
Under the 1999 sports capital programme operated by my Department a grant of £300,000 was allocated to Tolka Park in respect of development work at the Drumcondra end of the ground.
An application for additional funding under the 2000 sports capital programme has been received from Tolka Park to upgrade floodlighting to UEFA standards for live television broadcasting. This application together with all other applications will be evaluated in the coming months against the programme's assessment criteria which are outlined in the guidelines which accompanied the application form. My Department will also be in contact with the Football Association of Ireland to establish its priorities for funding under the 2000 programme.
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:
259
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
the plans he has to ensure that the many soccer clubs in the greater Dublin area particularly have adequate playing pitch and changing facilities available in view of the current tension which exists over the gross under-provision of facilities resulting in many young people falling away from involvement in soccer and into more sedentary and often anti-social activities.
[11532/00]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
266
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
if adequate coaching facilities are available to the various sporting disciplines; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11779/00]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
267
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
if he has satisfied himself regarding the provision of facilities for athletes; the plans, if any, he has to improve these facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11780/00]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
268
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
his plans, if any, for the provision of indoor and outdoor sporting and recreational facilities on a countrywide basis, with particular reference to population needs in developing areas and conscious of the facilities available in other European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11781/00]
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
(Dr. McDaid): I propose to take Questions Nos. 259, 266, 267 and 268 together.
This Government has signalled its commitment to the development of sport and recreational facilities by increasing the funding for capital expenditure for this purpose, by over 350%, from £8.5 million in 1997 to £41.07 million in the Estimates for the year 2000. This increase includes provision for more than a trebling in funding for the sport capital programme from £5 million in 1997 to £15.2 million in 2000; a fourfold increase in the provision for the swimming pool programme from £3.5 million in 1997 to £15.18 million in 2000; assistance towards the development of Ireland's first ever 50 metre swimming pool and the final instalment of the £20 million grant towards the development of Croke Park.
The sports capital programme which is operated by my Department provides funding towards the provision of sporting facilities at national, regional and local level. Prior to deciding on the funding for national and regional facilities my Department, in addition to the normal assessment criteria, consults with the national governing bodies of the organisations in question with a view to establishing their present and future priorities. My Department also consults with the Irish Sports Council, other Departments and with the local authorities in relation to their respective priorities for the provision of sporting facilities.
Under the programme, special priority is given to proposals for facilities in disadvantaged areas, in line with Government policy aimed at increasing participation in sport and recreation in these areas. In addition, applicants are required to consult with other clubs and community groups, including schools with sport and recreational facilities in their area, and the local authority before making an application for funding and to show the outcome of such consultations. The purpose of this is to ensure that regard is had to identified needs of the area and that the proposed development does not result in an overlap with and-or duplication of existing facilities. Sports clubs developing projects at national level are also required to ensure that the proposals are consistent with the priorities of their national governing bodies.
Under the 1999 sport capital programme, grants totalling some £19.99 million were allocated to 416 local community based projects and to a number of national and regional projects throughout the country. Provision is being made in the multi-annual estimates for the continuation of the programme at similar levels to 1999 in 2000 and 2001.
The sports capital programme for 2000 was advertised in early December 1999 with a closing date of 11 February 2000 for the receipt of completed applications. Over 1,600 applications were received and the initial processing of these has been completed. All of the applications received under the programme will be evaluated against the programme's assessment criteria which are outlined in the guidelines which accompanied the application form and I hope to be in a position to announce the grant allocations by June 2000.
I have secured an increase in funding of £36 million over the next three years for the local authority swimming pool programme – from £3 million in 1999 to £15 million per annum for the next three years. In addition, the provision of Ireland's first 50 metre pool is under way in Limerick and the Government is proceeding with the development of Sports Campus Ireland. Together, all these initiatives will provide the country with a range of world class indoor and outdoor facilities for a wide range of sports.
Under the national development plan financial assistance amounting to £85 million will be available over the seven years of the plan to support the development of sport and recreational facilities by local authorities, particularly in areas which lack them and for voluntary groups developing multi-sport and recreational facilities where no such facilities currently exist.
The Irish Sports Council provides funding to the national coaching and training centre for the development and enhancement of coaching in Ireland as well as for the provision of physiological, scientific, medical and other related services to elite individual competitors and squads.
Grants to national governing bodies of sport aimed at the development of their sports and the raising of coaching and competitive standards were increased by 30% this Olympic year, and over £1 million has been allocated to our top competitors under the international carding scheme.
In addition, the Government set up the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund, YPFSF, in 1998 as part of its national drugs strategy, to develop youth facilities, including sport and recreational facilities, and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. The three year fund aims to attract young people in those areas – at risk of becoming involved in drugs – into more healthy and productive pursuits. An Exchequer contribution of £34.8 million has been allocated over a three year period, 1999-2001, for this purpose.
The primary focus of the fund has been on the local drugs task force areas, of which 12 are located in Dublin. In April 1999, the Government allocated over £25 million to support 295 facility and services projects in these areas over the next three years. Of this amount £22 million was allocated to 268 individual projects in Dublin, including £994,000 to support eight facility projects in the north inner city task force area.
Finally, Fingal County Council has completed a feasibility study on the provision of an indoor athletics training facility adjacent to the existing athletics facilities at Morton Stadium, which is prioritised in the review of the Government's Action Programme for the Millennium. An application for funding for the project has been sub mitted by Fingal County Council and this is being considered by my Department.
I am satisfied that there is now under way an ambitious programme of State assisted expansion in a wide range of sports facilities and support services, catering for both the elite participant and the general public, right across the country.
