Vol. 555 No. 4
105 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will support a proposal made by the Irish Underwater Council for an upgrade of the recompression chamber at University Hospital Galway; if he will give an undertaking to provide funding for the proposal made by the Irish Underwater Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18674/02]
The primary function of the facility in question comes within the general area of health provision rather than sport. In this context, I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children that the Western Health Board is preparing a submission to his Department to replace the recompression chamber at University College Hospital, Galway. However, should the Irish Underwater Council, as a national governing body of sport, be in a position to establish and quantify an appropriate level of usage of the chamber specific to sport, it would be open to them to apply for assistance under my Department's sports capital programme.
