Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

The Department of Education and Science is represented on the inter-agency steering group established by my Department to oversee the development of a national sports facility strategy. The aim of the strategy is to provide high-level policy direction for future investment at national, regional and local level. Work on the development of the national sports facility strategy has included discussions with the Department of Education and Science on how its policy on the provision of sports hall facilities and my Department's policy for the provision of sports facilities might be complementary.

Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations, and in certain circumstances to schools and colleges throughout the country. It is the main vehicle for development of sports facilities at local, regional and national level throughout the country. Under the programme, priority is given to the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of sports facilities

Primary and post-primary schools that wish to be considered for funding under the programme may apply for funding jointly with local sports clubs or community groups, and they must meet other conditions including a requirement that the local community will have significant access to the proposed facility. This access must be for at least 30 hours a week throughout the year when it is not being used by the school itself. Any sports facility proposed for funding by a sporting organisation and which would be located within school grounds would have to meet these same conditions. I think that is reasonable. Applications from primary and post-primary schools and colleges on their own are not considered under the programme, as responsibility for the provision of sports facilities in schools and colleges is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Education and Science.

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