Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would be the first to acknowledge that the impact of inflation is across the board. Public services that I would be seeking to agree a budget for in the next couple of weeks include the cost of running our schools, which the Deputy touched on, hospitals, public transport systems and food, which is so important in different parts of our public service. All of these costs have increased. It puts pressure on what we call ELS, or protecting existing levels of service. We have made provision for 3%. Line Departments are now presenting their estimates of what actual costs will be next year based on the level of inflation. We have to work through all of that in the best way that we possibly can. I am conscious that there is an impact on sports clubs and community groups. We will consider that issue and take it into account over the next couple of weeks.

The Deputy has acknowledged the record allocation for sports funding. It is the largest ever, at €150 million. I will engage with the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, to ensure there is a funding stream in future and a new round of sports funding can be opened up. We get great value for money from the scheme, notwithstanding the construction inflation. I believe that investing in sport is the best place to spend money, especially in grassroots sport. We will work in a positive way with the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, and the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, on that.