Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister's reply and thank him for it. These questions were tabled because, like most people, Members are concerned that so many children never come into contact with sport. In many cases they are unhealthy and obese and are not excelling in sport. I do not need to indicate to the Minister the benefits that accrue to a generation of children exposed to sport at a young age. Such children carry those benefits with them throughout their lives. However, there are children who go through primary and secondary school without ever visiting a sports hall.

We are doing something wrong. Every child has a right to become involved in sport. Money is being invested in programmes relating to disadvantaged areas but these largely help children who are in any way self-selecting. No matter how disadvantaged, a motivated parent will push his or her child forward. Clubs do great work but they tend to cherry-pick the best children. Every child deserves to and should be exposed to sport. The State has an obligation to ensure that children have access to sport.

The corollary to this is that where facilities are provided in schools at public expense, such facilities must remain open for use after 5 p.m. each evening and at weekends. Will the Minister indicate the progress that is being made in respect of this issue? I accept that it is a condition for future funding in respect of facilities in schools. However, there are schools throughout the country that have facilities — even if, for example, these are only basic playgrounds — which are locked up and which children cannot access. This is an important matter, particularly in the context of the numbers of working parents who cannot and who do not have the time to bring their children to sports facilities outside their areas. All primary schools have some form of facilities and these should be made available to local children.

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