Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy previously raised this issue with me and the need for joined-up thinking. Primary and post-primary schools that want to be considered for funding can apply jointly with local sports clubs. This is a change because until now, the sports capital programme was separate from the Department of Education and Science. We have formally agreed for the first time that we will work more closely with that Department and see whether joint applications for funds could be considered when awarding sports capital grants.

We are moving in the direction urged by the Deputy. We did not do that in the past, because there was sufficient demand for the sports capital programme on its own, without being drawn into the area of education.

See this speech in context