Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)

Cúpla nóiméad eile, le do thoil.

I thank the Minister of State for his recent allocation of €109,000 to be spent this year on improving sporting facilities in the RAPID and CLÁR areas of Dundalk. As mentioned by Senator Ó Domhnaill, since 1998 almost €740 million has been allocated under the sports capital programme in more than 7,400 separate allocations. Financial constraints mean there is no new round of the sports capital programme. However, €33 million has been provided for 2011 to meet payments in respect of projects that have been allocated funding under the programme. While we are not in a position to have a new round of the sports capital programme, we are instead focusing on a targeted measure for local authority facilities. The programme for Government provides that future sports funding should prioritise projects that encourage greater participation in sport on a local and national level. This will be a central focus for any new round of the programme.

While funding is low at present, we must acknowledge that sporting facilities have improved significantly throughout our country in recent years. A great deal of Exchequer funds have been invested in this area, resulting in the transformation of sports facilities around the country, including the improvement of dressing rooms, pitches, lights and equipment. As the Minister of State mentioned, we have also seen the redevelopment of landmark stadiums including Croke Park, Thomond Park and the Aviva Stadium at Lansdowne Road.

Participation in any sport has obvious benefits in terms of health and fitness, self-esteem and personal well-being. Sporting achievements provide a morale boost for our country at large, focus international attention on our country and promote our image as an attractive place to visit and invest in. The recent success of the Irish Open at Killarney in August and the very successful Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle certainly gave us national and international publicity that we could not have bought and will enhance and boost the Irish tourism industry worldwide.

As Fine Gael spokesperson on sport in the Seanad, I am pleased to say that my party is firmly committed to the continued development of sport in the country. We recognise that in a time of economic difficulty, sporting events and successes are vital in lifting the country's spirits.