Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I will look at the issues the Deputy has raised. None of us can be proud of the conclusion in the report that the large majority of people who play sports in Ireland, and who enjoy the health benefits arising from those activities, are from higher-income and better-educated social groups. It is good that these people benefit but, having spent almost three years at the Department of Social and Family Affairs, I know that sport can play a significant role in tackling disadvantage. I propose, during my time in this office, to give priority to those experiencing disadvantage because sport provides great opportunities to tackle the issue and make a difference to communities, individuals and broken families. We must try to absorb the findings of this report and focus more on bringing the benefits of sport to disadvantaged areas, communities and individuals. I will return to the House on this issue because I intend to put a significant amount of work into the area.

Local sports partnerships have received €16 million in Government funding since they were set up in 2001 and I have heard the Deputy's comments about Kildare. A major initiative on disability officers and areas of disadvantage has come about through the dormant accounts fund and we will press ahead with such projects.

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