Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Of course. I agree that we are fortunate to have such good structures in place in terms of the interplay between the sports council and the various national governing bodies. It is vital that those standards are retained. The funding to the council last year was €43 million. There are ongoing and regular discussions between the council and the various sports governing bodies and procedures in this regard are kept up to date. The national governing bodies are obliged to come on board and to meet certain standards if they are to avail of council funding.

I take this opportunity to advise members of my intention later this year to bring forward for their consideration proposals to amalgamate the sports council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority. We are currently devising the heads of that Bill.