Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

A total of 54 joint applications involving schools and colleges and their local communities were received last year and a sum of €1.4 million was allocated to 13 school-based projects. There is scope, and the opportunity exists, for our educational institutions to partner communities in seeking to develop sports facilities.

On the broader point, all the relevant research shows that sport and exercise are enormously beneficial — particularly in therapeutic and physical terms — to young people and adds greatly to their character. It is, therefore, incumbent on the State to provide the maximum level of facilities. As already stated, over a nine-year period almost 7,000 projects were funded by the taxpayer under the sports capital programme. If one travels throughout the country, one can see the enormous benefits that have emanated from these projects. What are normally referred to as minority sports also have been strongly supported. However, further co-operation, consultation and integration is required between my Department and the Department of Education and Science as regards sport. I engage in further work to ensure this happens and that we achieve the type of objective to which the Deputy refers, namely, a better, healthier lifestyle for students.

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