Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I jest, but in all seriousness, as has been alluded to by my colleagues, we had a fantastic committee meeting in Abbotstown a couple of weeks ago. It was a huge opportunity to meet the various sporting bodies and their heads. When we meet groups there is always a tale of woe, and it is always a negative experience. This was certainly a positive, uplifting experience however. The bodies acknowledged the good work that has been done in working with the Department to date.

They do, however, have concerns. One of the concerns would be the roll-out of phase 2 of Abbotstown. The Minister has said why there has been a reduction from 2016 to 2017 in the capital funding. I would ask that he fight hard to have that restored in 2018. He has said that 2016 was a once-off but we need a further once-off to ensure the completion of Abbotstown becomes a reality.

Had the Minister been able to secure the same level of capital funding for 2017 the completion of Abbotstown would, perhaps, be a reality today as opposed to an aspiration. As stated by previous speakers, the reintroduction of sports capital funding is welcome, particularly for community groups as they strive to improve their facilities. While facilities are welcome, what we need is athletes to use them. There is a concern that as a country we do not have a strategic plan for high performance sports. This needs to be taken on board. I ask the Minister to take that on board and to move immediately to put in place that strategic plan.

Reference was made earlier to the inquiry currently under way into the ticket fiasco at Rio. The Minister stated earlier that the cost of that inquiry will be approximately €300,000 and that this will be met from the administrative budget. The overall budget for this area is €2.9 million. The administrative budget amounts to 1.9% of the overall budget. How is there sufficient fat within the administrative budget to meet that cost? I am concerned that owing to the cost of this investigation being met from the administrative budget, particular areas could be deprived of much-needed funding.

In regard to the €6.3 million capital carry-over, I am surprised there is any capital carry-over given the many competing demands for capital funding under this heading.