John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 11 together.

My Department has an excellent, long-standing and productive relationship with the Institute for Leisure and Amenity Management, ILAM Ireland, with regard to the network of high quality, appropriate and sustainable leisure sports facilities available throughout the country. My Department and ILAM have co-operated in various initiatives over the years to help promulgate standards of best practice pertaining to the provision, management and maintenance of sports and leisure facilities. Department officials have participated in numerous ILAM public seminars to consult, inform and assist local authorities, sports organisations, voluntary bodies and community organisations on details of Government sports policy and funding programmes.

Ministers have publicly endorsed ILAM's initiative in introducing the white flag awards aimed at swimming pools, sports halls, gymnasiums and other indoor leisure facilities in the public and private sectors. The awards have been welcomed and commended as an important instrument to promote the highest standards in facility management and maintenance to meet present day requirements and demands of an increasingly discerning public.

I am also pleased to congratulate ILAM and An Taisce on this scheme and its success to date. However, as I have already indicated informally to ILAM, I cannot envisage any direct role which would be appropriate for my Department in what is essentially an internal leisure industry standard, adjudication on which would be outside the role, function and expertise of the Department. I will arrange to have this position conveyed formally to ILAM.

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