Mr. Kieran Mulvey:

We initiate it to some degree. We meet with representatives of each of the NGBs every year and look at their targets, performance, emerging talent efforts and so on. We have that engagement going on all the time. Largely, however, we need the NGBs to come to us and tell us what they are doing. We can then give them assistance to put a plan together and we will examine that plan.

In the context of disabilities, as referred to by Deputy Griffin, I am very conscious of the work of Special Olympics Ireland. Indeed, I was very involved in that even before I was on the Irish Sports Council. We gave Special Olympics Ireland a special grant this year of €0.25 million, in excess of its existing grant funding, to ensure we could have a tremendous presence in Los Angeles. That was on top of the normal allocation. To clarify, we provide Special Olympics Ireland with special funding for the annual games and, in addition, special funding for the international games. One cannot put a price on what has been achieved by that body.

Paralympics Ireland is our most successful sporting body in that we fund more podium finishes in paralympics that we do in athletics. In fact, the Irish paralympics team has podium finished at Olympic and World Games beyond our expectations. We take an all-inclusive approach with that body and work closely with it.

I take the Deputy's point about the big field sports and the need for inclusivity in terms of access to facilities and so on. It is an issue I will take on board. I have not directly approached the NGBs about it but organisations like the Irish Rugby Football Association, FAI and Gaelic Athletic Association certainly are very conscious of it. One of the ways to facilitate that type of inclusivity is by requiring all capital facilities to have full disability access.