Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Harrington asked a good question about the funding of promising young and rising stars, men and women. That is why we have the Irish Sports Council. We provide funding for them. The Irish Sports Council targets and funds elite athletes. Sometimes people forget that we fund them well. There is a mechanism in place and the council is changing that mechanism. We are also giving funding to the national governing bodies and they make decisions. Deputy Harrington referred to a promising swimmer. The council can provide the financial back-up and support that such athletes need to enhance their position and ensure they get the opportunities they deserve. The Irish Sports Council has worked well.

People talk about the Olympic and Paralympic Games that took place recently. The reason those involved in the Paralympic Game did so well was because they had the funding from the Irish Sports Council, especially in the case of the elite athletes, and they acknowledge as much. They were well-prepared, well-trained and they were given the necessary back-up and support from the Irish Sports Council. It worked well. That is why we had such success in the Olympic Games with boxing. It is some years ago since funding for boxing was put in place. These boxers were supported financially and were given the professional team lead by Mr. Walsh. People come from throughout the world to examine how we have done so well in boxing and that speaks for itself. The Irish Sports Council provides the funding for elite athletes. It helps and supports them and gives them the opportunity, especially in the case of athletes at their peak who are getting good funding from the council.

This year the council has given some funding to the national governing bodies. This means the governing bodies must make decisions as well. One cannot have someone in receipt of this funding who is making no progress. At times the bodies must make decisions and decide on the people who are going well, going places and who should be supported.

Deputy Harrington referred to dual careers. Employers in this country have been very good. Deputy O'Mahony has managed football teams and is aware of this. Employers have been very helpful and supportive of sport and rightly so. However, there is only so far their generosity can go, especially in these economic times. That is why we have the position on dual careers and flexibility. We are trying to ensure flexibility between the employers and education institutes to try to give athletes the opportunity to develop themselves and make a career out of sports. That is what we are at. When we go before the meeting next week in Brussels we will bring in the conclusions. Representatives will go back to their counties and the conclusions will be finalised at a later stage to establish whether we can bring in support mechanisms to try to deal with this.