Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

One of the difficulties faced by some organisations is that they do not own or have a 35-year lease on the grounds or facilities. This issue is probably relevant to national lottery funding as well as sports capital funding. Is the sports strategy review group addressing this issue? People find themselves in a chicken and egg situation. They cannot move because they cannot get the funding. They cannot get the 35-year or long-term lease because they cannot afford to purchase it without that sort of funding being made available.

In respect of trying to develop co-operation with existing educational facilities, such facilities do not want to and cannot lease their properties or grounds to an organisation that might use them. The organisation cannot then get access to funding without having a lease so this is something that must be looked at, particularly in respect of national lottery funding for the ongoing running of organisations. Many of these clubs are marginal. They are not the GAA or soccer clubs of this world. They are different athletic clubs and need land, which is a scarce commodity, but cannot afford to either lease or buy it.

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