Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There were also issues with title that were always difficult to get through the validation process. We have tried to rectify much of that and have had a great deal of engagement with the Department of Education and Skills in doing so.

Outside of the sports policy process, we were also meeting the then Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, to see what we could do specifically on the sports capital programme in future to try to roll out better sporting facilities to schools, which is where the children are and where there is a captive audience for a number of hours every day. We have been exploring how the two Departments could collaborate better to facilitate the PE curriculum. It would be a massive cost for any one Department to take on the capital requirements related to PE, for example. We are interested in seeing whether a broader community benefit could result from the implementation of facilities to facilitate the PE curriculum. It is going on across all Departments. There is a role to be played by several Departments such as the Department of Health, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Rural and Community Development. We are trying to interact as much as we can with other Departments.

I have probably answered the budgetary questions asked by the Vice Chairman. I am aware we will have to keep fighting this fight every year to keep up with the requirements to reach the target. We are off to a very good start. We did not commit to a linear increase per annum. If we were looking at a straight line between 2017 and 2027, we have surpassed it already. I am very anxious that we reach the target and, ultimately, beat it. We are doing well at present but that does not mean we can take it easy in the next budget. I want to see more money coming into the sport sector as quickly as possible because it is money that is really well spent. There is not a cent that goes into sport that is not well spent. There is a massive return for the Exchequer and society. I do not see it as sports expenditure but as investment.