John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I turn to another sport which may be underfunded - golf. Mr. Treacy mentioned in his opening statement the Team Ireland Golf trust programme. I understand it was started in 1999 for young professionals, male and female. Peter Lawrie, Shane Lowry and Michael Hoey have been funded under the scheme. I read somewhere years ago that there are more people registered as golfers than there are in some of the larger sports. At almost 300,000, it is the highest in Europe as far as being registered goes. I look at the amount ISC gives to the Golfing Union of Ireland, which is €375,000, and then at the Team Ireland grant allocation of €139,000 for 2012, which figure I got from the ISC website. Mr. Treacy and I are golfers, and people who hear these young professionals are on tour, even the Challenge Tour, think they are making a boatload of cash. It is not the case and many of them are struggling.

I look at the Ryder Cup and the success of Paul McGinley and Pádraig Harrington, that class of golfer. The enormous success Irish golf has had internationally is amazing. Across America and the world, when one thinks of golf, one thinks of Ireland. When I look at €139,000 for 15 young professionals, it does not seem like a great deal of cash. Should we invest more considering how many people are registered to play golf, the degree of effort being put into young golfers and clubs, and the success they are achieving? In the area Mr. Treacy and I come from we have Gary Hurley and Seamus Power from West Waterford Golf Club. I know Mr. Treacy is a member of Dungarvan Golf Club, but not if he is a member of West Waterford.