Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy's comments reflect an ongoing and valid debate. I hope the audit will be completed over the coming months. The Irish Sports Council commissioned a number of reports from the ESRI and other agencies. The findings of these reports will influence the direction the Department will take on these issues.

Over the past ten years, sports facilities have been transformed throughout the country. While solutions remain to be found in individual cases, in some instances the Department is not the only reason facilities have not been constructed. I accept that, at a minimum, all sports facilities, for various obvious reasons, need to have proper dressing rooms and toilet facilities. Many of these sports facilities are now for mixed use, which I welcome. One of the issues that arose in the most recent report was the significant issue of ensuring the retention of young women in sport. We are aware of the benefits from the point of view of health, socially and in other respects, gained by individuals who are active in sport. That is an issue we are examining. Perhaps it is time to pause and reflect on the number of sports facilities provided across every county not only in terms of the club or school but to maximise the use of those individual facilities during the day, night and at weekends to ensure that, on behalf of the taxpayer, we obtain the full value for a local community from all the investment that has been made.

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