Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 2

Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

159 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the plans he has to provide recreational facilities for the handicapped; if his Department has available funding to provide facilities on a group or individual basis to meet their needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19268/01]

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

The sports capital programme administered by my Department provides funding to voluntary and community organisations throughout the country. One of its main objectives is to assist such organisations with the development of appropriate facilities in locations that will maximise use in terms of participation in sport and recreation; with the proviso that the facilities should be high quality, safe, well designed and sustainable to both the user and the provider. It is, of course, open to organisations representing the handicapped or disabled to apply for funding under the programme.

It should also be noted that grant-aided projects must ensure that suitable access is provided for the disabled to buildings.

I have allocated approximately £102 million to 2,021 projects under the programme over the past four years, including £40 million to 680 projects in 2001, which, for example included £750,000 to the Irish Wheelchair Association, £15,000 for the Ard na Seaghsa centre in Boyle, County Roscommon and £20,000 to the Irish Basketball Association for the provision of a lift for the disabled at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.

The latter facility will be used as one of the 18 centres which will host events in the 2003 World Special Olympic Games, due to be held in Ireland for the first time. Other improvements which are being made in facilities for the World Special Olympics include the 50 metre swimming pool which is being built as part of the Aquatic Centre at Sports Campus Ireland, Abbotstown.

Under the local authority swimming pool programme, which is also administered by my Department, the Government has provided £45 million funding over the three year period 2000-2002, effectively increasing the annual budget from £3 million per annum to £15 million over these three years. All proposals for funding under this programme must include provision and access for the disabled.

In addition to the above, the Irish Sports Council provides funding for promotion and development of sport to the Irish Paralympic Council and to the following organisations:

2001 Grant Allocations

	£
Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland	92,185
Irish Blindsports	42,175
Irish Deaf Sports Association	26,790
Irish Paralympic Council	28,000
Irish Wheelchair Association	193,831
Special Olympics Ireland	160,100

and to selected high performance athletes under the international carding scheme.