John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

To answer the Deputy's last question, there is no provision in the first phase of the proposed Abbotstown project for aninstitute of sport. The Irish Sports Council is compiling a proposal for an institute of sport for presentation to Government. That proposal is at an advanced stage and I expect to receive it soon.

With regard to the construction of regional facilities across the country, Deputy Deenihan is aware of a number of such facilities, not least in his constituency. In Castleisland, for example, An Ríocht has a fine athletics centre. Other such centres for different sports are evident throughout the country. There is no parallel formalised plan for the construction of regional sports centres across the country. I have concentrated my energy on whether it is first possible to initiate the first phase of the Abbotstown project. Future consideration should be given to the matter.

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