National Sporting Facilities: Motion (Resumed).

The following motion was moved by Senator Kieran Phelan:

"That Seanad Éireann:

—congratulates the Government for giving unprecedented political priority to sport and recreation combined with record investment;

—welcomes the substantial increase in the annual sports budget to €130 million in 2005 compared to just €17 million in 1997;

—acknowledges sport was first given a seat at the Cabinet table back in 1997 and notes by the end of 2005, Government spending on sport since 1997 will be over €740 million;

—notes too that the Sports Council budget in 2005 is €34.4 million, taking the total funding since its establishment in 1999 to almost €158 million;

—maintains that significantly increased funding under the Sports Capital Programme has ensured the provision of high quality sport facilities in many locations throughout Ireland;

—welcomes the fact that since 1998, over €385 million has been allocated to 4,899 sports capital projects;

—congratulates the Government for investing in the development of facilities which cater for national needs, for example the National Aquatic Centre at Abbotstown, the National Boxing Stadium; the National Rowing Centre at Inniscarra, County Cork, the National Hockey Stadium in UCD and the Tennis Ireland National Centre in Glasnevin;

—supports the policy of developing top class regional facilities serving all sports which are being developed through the provision of regional sports centres all over Ireland; and

—asks the Government to continue to place a special emphasis on sport and recreation as this will have significant benefits in fostering healthier lifestyles and stronger communities."

Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following:

"—criticising the €7 million reduction in funding under the Sports Capital Programme for 2005, a reduction of 13% on last year;

—disappointed at the obvious regional disparity and inequity in the manner in which monies are allocated under the Sports Capital Programme;

—condemning the fact that even though the National Aquatic Centre cost more than €60 million, an independent report concluded that the roof did not comply with the normal design codes or building regulations;

—highlighting the numerous reports of other serious structural problems at the National Aquatic Centre;

—deploring the lack of basic sports facilities throughout the country, and at many primary and secondary schools;

—acknowledging that even though 300,000 of our children are overweight or obese the provision of physical education facilities at our schools has been totally neglected and constitutes a tiny fraction of the capital budget;

—noting the OECD findings which showed conclusively that Ireland ranks as one of the lowest in the OECD in terms of funding and support for physical education and that only 4% of school time is allocated to physical education compared to 9% in other OECD countries;

—condemning the scrapping by this Government of grants for purchasing school sports equipment;

—concerned that there is a far lower participation in sport by women than by men, even though research has clearly shown that weight-bearing physical exercise is a strong preventative measure in the incidence of certain medical conditions, like osteoporosis, which particularly affect women;

calls on the Government to:

—ensure that the Sports Capital Programme monies, which are raised by all of us through the National Lottery, are administered by the Irish Sports Council and not by the Government;

—undertake to provide all future national sports infrastructure on time, on budget and to the highest standard so that the costly and shambolic delivery of the National Aquatic Centre will not be repeated;

—give urgent priority to the development of physical education facilities, and the purchasing of sporting equipment, in primary and secondary schools;

—devote greater school time to physical education and sporting activities, and make PE compulsory at both Junior and Senior cycles in second level education;

—adopt the Brighton Principles as a matter of priority, which aim to ensure equity and equality in sport; and

—raise the profile of the health benefits of sport for women with special reference to osteoporosis and other ailments."

—(Senator Feighan).

Mr. Leyden

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Conor Lenihan, and commend him on his excellent work as regards many issues that have arisen and particularly the situation in Kashmir, Pakistan and India. I encourage him to keep up the good work. While we have a great developing country we must keep in mind the problems of the Third World. The Minister of State is aware of that. The funding should be expanded for that particular tragedy. The situation there appears to be worsening in so far as I can see, and is critical.

I wish to support the motion tabled by my party in this regard. It is time we congratulated the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue and his staff in the Department on their extra work in this particular regard. Bear in mind that nothing can be done without the national lottery from where the funding comes. As a Member of the Dáil at the time, I supported the former Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Creed, who brought the National Lottery Bill to the House. Reservations were expressed as to the possibility of people becoming hooked on gambling, but in fact it has worked out relatively well. The problems that some people expected at the time have not materialised. It was a different era. It is nearly 20 years since the Bill was enacted and we supported that particular motion at the time. The country has benefited greatly from the funding realised by the national lottery. Senator Feighan will be delighted to know that CLÁR funding is coming to Roscommon for the projects announced under the national lottery. Senator Ulick Burke's area is not being forgotten. Creggs, which is in his area, is getting additional funding as well. I will not announce that formally tonight, except to reiterate that the Senators have not been forgotten.

Mr. U. Burke

There will be little left to announce by the time the Senator is finished.

Mr. Leyden

Quite a number of the projects in which Senator Feighan is interested and which he supports are also benefiting. Areas such as Kilglass are getting an additional €20,000 on top of the €100,000 already approved. Is that not very welcome? I thank the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, who brought about this initiative. Not only is the lottery grant being allocated to areas such as Kilglass, but an additional percentage is being allocated under the CLÁR programme. That was and is a Fianna Fáil initiative. When Senator Feighan gets the Roscommon Herald——

Mr. U. Burke

We want more than that.

Mr. Leyden

——he will be delighted to see the effect.

Mr. Feighan

I am sure it will be on Shannonside Radio in the morning.

Mr. Leyden

I am just trying to find references to Galway here. Creggs rugby club is to get another €14,000, so that will help. Many Senators have outlined the benefits that have derived to projects in their particular areas. Nothing comes to mind more than the massive swimming pool and recreation centre in Roscommon town. The former Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Deputy McDaid, was an extremely good friend of Roscommon when that was approved. The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism should now consider the whole question as to the maintenance of approved projects. The capital costs have been provided, but the ongoing costs of developing projects should be considered. For example, in Ballaghadereen, where more than €300,000 has been collected for the erection of a swimming pool, it will be very difficult to build it without prior commitment as to the maintenance costs. I support that project in Ballaghadereen, which is a growing town. I am sure Senator Feighan will join with me in supporting it as well. An application has been made to the Department by Roscommon County Council for funding for that particular project. I hope that it will be provided.

From a national viewpoint the €103.49 million for Croke Park is a worthy investment. That amount of money has been provided by the Government for Croke Park since 1998. It is a truly magnificent venue and the GAA deserves to be congratulated on its investment in that particular project. It is a state-of-the-art location, providing all the facilities. The GAA showed initiative in taking on the project. Next Monday the detailed design for the Lansdowne Road stadium will be announced, a venue that everyone will be watching tonight. I am sure the Minister of State will be anxious to get away to watch the match at some stage. Again, the Minister is very involved in that particular project. The aquatic centre in Abbotstown, as well, is a great success, irrespective of the teething problems that arise in any project. Anyone who has built a house will have found that problems always arise in this particular regard. The centre was opened in 2003 for the Special Olympics and in time will be a great success.

The Special Olympics was a great indicator of the support for voluntary work in this country. Everyone involved deserves to be congratulated. It was one of the most magnificent events ever witnessed in Ireland. For those of us who were present at the opening and closing ceremonies, it was the great event of 2003. It is to be hoped that in the future, given the investment in sport, we will host the full Olympic Games in Ireland. I am delighted at London's success in getting the Olympics. it will mean a massive spin-off here. Tourism organisations should now be gearing up towards the benefits that will accrue to Ireland because of our proximity. I am sure the national airline will be active in providing fast direct flights.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I must ask the Senator to conclude.

Mr. Leyden

I am grateful to the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I was going finish with some good news for him, too, which I am trying to locate. However, he will have to wait to read the local newspapers to see the amount of money that is being allocated. It is embargoed until tomorrow, so I cannot say too much about it. Again, I thank the Minister of State and wish him continued success in his portfolio.

Mr. K. Phelan

I want to say a special word of thanks to the Minister for coming to the House. I compliment the Government on the tremendous work it is doing. I am not going to delay. There is a very important match on at 7.30 p.m. and I am sure people are anxious to get away to it. I also thank the Minister of State.

Amendment put.

The Seanad divided: Tá, 17; Níl, 24.