Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to pick up on what Senator Eamonn Coghlan had to say. I missed the beginning of it, unfortunately, because I had to take a phone call. The first of my two questions relates to sports capital grants. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, on the manner in which he has dispersed these grants since they were reintroduced. I welcomed the Government's decision to reintroduce them in difficult times. I am hopeful that the amount of money available for sports capital grants will be increased. I understand the current allocation is between €29 million and €30 million. I am not sure whether that figure is written in stone. I saw a reference to it in the Minister's speech yesterday. Has that been factored into the current Estimates? In light of the improving economic situation, is there any flexibility to increase that figure?

I share Senator Coghlan's views in relation to smaller organisations. I know there is a tendency to go for the larger critical mass in cities and towns. Perhaps that can be attributed to the limited amount of money that is available. I would like to put the figure of €29 million that I have mentioned in context by referring to two major projects in my home county of Leitrim. I understand the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, represented the Minister two weeks ago at the opening of an international-standard canoeing facility at Lough Rynn. This project was funded substantially at a cost of €900,000. My understanding is that a further capital allocation of another couple of hundred thousand euro is needed so the facility in question can be completed to the highest international standards. Over the past couple of years, the Leitrim GAA county board has embarked on the completion of a centre of excellence at Annaduff on the N4 outside Carrick-on-Shannon. That project has been held up because of a lack of money.

It is a €1.5 million facility for the county. It is probable a funding application will be made for approximately €100,000. I am taking those two examples for a small county like Leitrim. In national terms it would be the equivalent of approximately €29 million. That is the reason why there is a need to consider the matter along the lines that Senator Coghlan was describing and to also hopefully increase the budget.

My final question relates to tourism, and here I am wearing my hat as a former chairman of Fáilte Ireland North-West. I became aware that despite the fact that there is a North-South dimension and that Tourism Ireland represents the island of Ireland abroad, there was internal tension between the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, such as it is, and Fáilte Ireland. Has the Minister become aware of this and is he concerned about ongoing suggestions that Northern Ireland should opt out of the traditional marketing of the island of Ireland abroad, or that more resources should be given to focus on Northern Ireland? Were that to happen it would be a detrimental step. It is a politically sensitive issue and tourism will be one of the major topics of debate at the next North-South parliamentary meeting in November. I am curious to explore the Minster's own attitude towards the North-South dimension. Would he support a continuation of the marketing of the island of Ireland abroad?