Mr. Matt English:

I will deal with queries in the order in which they arose. Deputy Smith raised the use of facilities. We are very fortunate that we do not invest in capital facilities outside the programme. We get to utilise local facilities in the community, North and South. Some of the clubs may pay a small charge for the use of the facilities but, by and large, when we host area, regional or national events the charge is heavily discounted when we pay for the use of the facilities.

The local sports partnerships work very closely in developing the programme with our regional development officers. They may give funding to local clubs such as the GAA or the rugby club when they are raising money for their own local clubs. That is very well integrated.

Special Olympics Ireland must always look at the opportunity to apply for grants. To paraphrase Mark Durkan, MP, we have to busk around. That is not ideal because we would prefer to put our energy into the delivery of the programme rather than continually looking for small pockets of funds here and there. We must, however, do that.

Senator Moran raised the issue of multi-departmental funding. Again, the model has worked so well in Northern Ireland. We recognise that we deal with the lead Department in this regard, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. The other Departments effectively channel the funding through the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure because they recognise that we deliver much more than sport.

We are always reaching out - as we have done through Senator Moran, who has been a great advocate for Special Olympics Ireland - through this opportunity and other opportunities in various forums to explain that we need funding from other Departments. We are constantly reaching out in that regard. We simply do not get enough coverage, particularly with the national games due to take place in June. Any help we can get in that regard is really important.

With regard to reserves and funding, the Northern Ireland Executive has given a four-year commitment of £2.3 million, which works out at over £600,000 per annum. Costs vary from year to year because the cost base moves up and down. The core funding comes from the Irish Sport Council and amounts to €1.2 million. We have been given an additional allocation of €200,000 towards the cost of the Ireland games, which is an additional cost. The Ireland games will cost roughly €2 million in total, so the council has contributed 10% to the additional cost of hosting the games.

The organisation is fortunate to have reserves due to years of good management, but that reserve has been depleted by under €1 million in 2012. We are currently preparing the draft accounts for 2013 and expect, based on estimates, that the reserves will be depleted by a further €1 million. The accounts are available on our website and the reserve is quoted. The board of Special Olympics Ireland wants us to retain one year's costs in reserve. We work in a four-year programme so we have already committed to sending athletes to the world games in Los Angeles next year. The current reserves are equivalent to the cost of running the programme for one year, but we make strategic decisions all the time. Therefore, we always reach out to ensure that we can sustain the programme and continue to expand it, because there is definite demand from stakeholders to do so.

The board is in the process of conducting a review of the organisation because the current cost base will have to downsize unless we get further funding in the medium term. Downsizing will have a significant impact across a range of levels, including our ability to reach out, open new clubs and deliver the help programme and the athlete leadership programme that Mr. McKernan spoke about. Mr. Mark Durkan, MP, mentioned the athlete volunteer programme, which is a great development. It would not have been possible without investment in an athlete leadership programme. Those are benefits which are outside the core area of sport. We simply will not be able to give energy and time to those benefits if we do not have funding.

I am not sure if I have dealt will all of the queries raised. Deputy Crowe also mentioned reserves and restructuring. I wish to refer to a relevant point he raised about multi-departmental funding. Such funding is a challenge and adds extra administration. The Northern Ireland Executive has got around the problem by having its Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure as the lead agent. It is really about Departments recognising that they have an obligation to support what is delivered by the Special Olympics programme and assessing how to make the processes as efficient as possible for everyone involved.

I shall hand over to Mr. McKernan regarding other elements.