John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I agree with many of his targets on increasing participation among the general public. I have heard him speak of it many times and it is commendable. Sports capital funding allows this to happen. I agree with sharing facilities; it is important they are used to their maximum capacity and that advantage is given to applications for sports capital funding for communities and clubs that do that.

I have some questions on the information provided on the meeting next week, and doping and corruption in sport. What can be done at European or national level to stop corruption? It was demonstrated in the Lance Armstrong case, for example, that there was a combination of doping and corruption. The Armstrong foundation provided funding to the cycling federations which were policing Lance Armstrong, and as a result the policing failed.

Things are similar in Ireland. Is the Minister of State happy with the various governing bodies of sport in Ireland? The success of the boxers in the recent Olympic Games has been articulated well. What is the Minister of State's view on money being targeted at sports with competitors who have better chance of winning at Olympic level?

In some of the governing bodies, such as Swim Ireland, 50% of the funding released by the Sports Council goes into administration. I understand there are fewer than 25 high performance swimmers, three centres and 100 staff throughout the country. Maybe all the funding is used wisely.

The director of Irish swimming lives and works in Florida and is, I presume, in receipt of a substantial salary. Swimming in Ireland seems to be governed by remote control. I could articulate a number of examples. I would like to say I raise the issue for the benefit of swimming in Ireland, not to criticise it.

I merely wish to hear the Minister of State's views on these matters. As he said, funding is scarce at this time and what is available must be used as effectively as possible. Unfortunately, the figures I have cited suggest this is not happening in all governing bodies.