Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Brennan is correct. Last year was the first time since 2008 that there has been a sports capital programme. We received a record 2,170 applications. We grant-aided 648 separate facilities throughout the country. I would have liked to have had more money to distribute. The breakdown in respect of the programme is that €26 million was invested in local schemes and €5 million in regional or major schemes. We took this approach to try to get the money to the grass roots. That is why we limited the funding for regional and major schemes to €5 million. If we had left matters open, major schemes would have sought €7 million, €8 million or €12 million in respect of various projects. We just could not allow that to happen. I would love to put another scheme in place and I am currently negotiating with the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputies Noonan and Howlin, in that regard. I would like to obtain the support of the committee in respect of this matter. Perhaps the Chairman might issue correspondence to the Ministers involved informing them of the economic value of the sports capital programme. For every €1 spent on sport, the return is €1.26. Therefore, this money creates employment and encourages participation in sport. A stimulus budget is again due to be introduced this year and I hope it will contain funding for a further sports capital programme.

As already stated, we received 2,170 applications last year, the largest number received since the scheme was originally established, simply because there had not been a programme in place since 2008. I thank my officials for the way in which they dealt with those applications. Members will understand that the number of applications received relates to the economic problems we are experiencing. Many sports clubs require funding in respect of their facilities and I am delighted that matters worked out so well. I wish we had more money and I hope we will be able to secure another round of funding. I would appreciate it if the Chairman and members would write to the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform in support of the concept of another sports-----