Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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My next questions relate to sport. I was very complimentary to Sport Ireland last week but I was also taken aback. There is great confusion about its role. Sport Ireland is not regulator. It stated it has no role in large-scale capital allocations made directly from the Department or in sports capital. I will be honest; I was shocked by what happened with regard to sports capital funding under the previous Government and the changes that were brought about all of a sudden, the fact there were reviews and the fact that everything changed. Three sporting facilities in the area of the former Minister which were very close to one another, one of them a private school, got €150,000 each after a review. That was quite shocking. I do not ever want to see that happening again. I do not think the Department wants to see it happen again. The witnesses are nodding so I know they are in agreement with me.

Sport Ireland should be in charge of all capital funding. Sports capital should not be within the Department as otherwise there is no reason for Sport Ireland to exist. Sport Ireland administers for all of the organisations. With regard to any large capital funding given to various projects, such as Páirc Uí Chaoimh, if there is no recommendation and if an holistic approach is not taken to administering sport in Ireland then, in fairness, we cannot ask Sport Ireland to be a regulator as it has two hands tied behind its back with regard to capital funding. Are there are moves afoot to make this change? I strongly recommend to the Cathaoirleach, and I have spoken to him and mentioned it here, that we write a report and make a recommendation to the Government, if I can get my colleagues' agreement, that all of this funding should be within the one organisation. Sport Ireland runs Abbotstown. It does work on capital but it does not do these two areas. Are any changes afoot to make this happen?