Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

The Government has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to sport as evidenced by the continued, substantial investment in sport, with a total sports budget of €336 million in 2008. The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Sports Council is the statutory body responsible for the development of sport in Ireland and that the level of funding to the Olympic bodies, national governing bodies of sport and elite athletes is therefore a matter for the Irish Sports Council in the first instance. In 2008, my Department has allocated more than €57.3 million to the Irish Sports Council, an increase since the last Olympic year of €26.6 million, some 86.4%.

One of the Irish Sports Council's primary functions is to encourage the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport and the achievement of excellence in competitive sport. In this regard, the Irish Sports Council works in partnership with the Irish Institute of Sport, the Olympic Council of Ireland, OCI, the Paralympic Council of Ireland, PCI, and the relevant governing bodies of sport in the preparation and participation of Irish competitors at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. I am informed by the Irish Sports Council that significant progress has been made to date by all the agencies in preparation for the Beijing Olympics and Paralympic Games.

The Olympic and Paralympic Councils of Ireland are the agencies responsible for the organisation and participation of the Irish teams at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Irish Sports Council provides annual funding to both councils for administration and programme costs aimed specifically at preparation for the games. The OCI and PCI have responsibility for a number of areas including team selection, following nominations from governing bodies of athletes that have reached qualification standards; selection of support personnel; team manager training programmes; preparation visits to Beijing by key personnel; heat and acclimatisation strategy; the organisation of multi-sport camps in advance of the games; all logistics at games time; and liaison with the organising committee and the International Olympic Committee.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Primary responsibility for the preparation and performance of individual athletes rests with the relevant national governing body or, in the case of Paralympic sports, the Paralympic Council of Ireland. I have invited the ISC, the OCI and the PCI to meet with me shortly to hear at first hand the preparations being made for Beijing.

Arising from the Sydney review published in 2001 and the Athens review published in 2005, the Irish Sports Council has introduced many initiatives and programmes to enhance the preparations of Ireland's Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

Many Irish athletes are preparing to compete at or qualify for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing. I am assured by the ISC that planning has been comprehensive and well funded, with plans implemented by top quality professionals at every step. The ISC has defined success as meeting its target of six finalists at the Olympics. This target is still in place and hopefully will be achieved.

Tomorrow, I will be announcing the Irish Sports Council's package of investment in high performance sport in 2008. This comprehensive package will cover every aspect of Olympic and Paralympic preparation and will continue to develop and support elite sport in Ireland.

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