Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I am glad to hear that. There have been occasions before where we were told groups had a huge interest but they did not turn up.

What costs are involved for the organisations concerned? Will they pay rent on a long-term lease? Will this project pay for itself or will it be funded by the taxpayer? We all support this legislation but the National Aquatic Centre has had a chequered history over its short lifespan. We hope that whatever is built, more thought will be put into its management than went into the National Aquatic Centre. Things went badly wrong there. It is not that we did not want such a centre but I hope the way we went about getting it will not be replicated in other projects.

I heard the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, patting himself on the back in recent weeks. It is difficult to understand, however, that only 23% of second level schools have a sports hall. I am not involved in education but I would have thought the figure would be much higher. When we talk so much about obesity and related issues, physical education should be available in every school and should be augmented by the provision of a sports hall. If children are missed at that stage, it is hard for them to develop a new found interest later in life.

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