Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Going back to my earlier answer, it is a matter for Sport Ireland and the NGBs to agree the high performance strategy and the implementation of that. That is something with which the NGBs are in agreement. They want to see the high performance strategy put in place and administered by Sport Ireland. I do not want to get into an area that is technically its area. How it does it, who the funding goes to and where the best prospects are are matters for Sport Ireland working with the NGBs. We have set our targets in terms of the medal count in future games. We want to see an increase on what we have achieved in recent games. Regarding the implementation of that, I am very confident that Sport Ireland, working with the NGBs, will be able to do that. I look forward to see work on the high performance strategy progress over the next 12 months. That type of structure is needed so that we can give a bit of certainty to our athletes and get the best possible return for our investment. That return on our investment is brilliant for the national mood and pride but these are the people who inspire the next generation. There is a circle. If we can pump money in to increase the levels of facilities and programmes available to help people participate and start at a young age, there is a greater chance that more people will make it through to high performance. If we get more people at high performance performing well on the world stage, these people inspire more people to get involved at grassroots level. We are conscious that it is very cyclical and are trying to bring about a trebling of that funding.