Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are talking about the sports capital programme here in isolation. There is a wider issue. We are about to publish a very comprehensive sports policy document. The responsibility goes beyond the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the sports capital programme to provide funding and programmes for sport and participation in Ireland. It is a discussion we need to have and it is something that we are actively pursuing. It is very important that we have more input from local authorities and that the local sports partnerships, who do excellent work, would have a bigger role in facilitating greater involvement in sport throughout the country. There is a role for other Departments too, including Education and Science, Health, Housing, Planning and Local Government, and Children and Youth Affairs. There could be a collaborative approach on which they could all work with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to ensure that this would happen. We are always looking to improve the sports capital programme. We recognise its huge value and always strive to make it better. Any application process that involves almost 2,500 very complex applications from all over the country will naturally result in examples where people are disappointed, where they may not get the amount they sought, or where applicants are unsuccessful. However, the vast majority of applicants to this round have been very happy with their outcome. For the first time ever, we were able to give funding to everyone who was valid under the local scheme and for the top two thirds who were valid under the regional scheme. That is 1,800 clubs and organisations, which is an enormous achievement.