Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will start with Deputy Troy. He spoke about the smaller sporting bodies feeling inadequately funded, and we get that from many sporting bodies at present. We have a sports policy document which will emerge very shortly. It is in a draft form on my desk at present and will be adjusted accordingly but is very near conclusion. I think that that problem will be addressed in that sports policy document. It is a very comprehensive document. There was a public consultation, as the Deputy knows, to which many bodies made representations. I think there were more than 50 submissions. It will be a very ambitious programme that will seek a more prominent position for sport in the life of this country than it has at present. It is set out in a way that recognises the importance of sports, and I am sure the smaller sporting bodies' position will be recognised in the document as well.

Regarding the large-scale capital grants, the Deputy says that one reply to a parliamentary question stated it would be this year and the other said it would be within a few months. Those two statements are reconcilable.