Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The Irish Sports Council, ISC, which is funded by my Department has statutory responsibility for encouraging the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport and increasing participation in recreational sport. All sports organisations funded by the ISC, including national governing bodies and local sports partnerships, are encouraged to target all sections of society in seeking to increase participation in sport. The ISC, within its research remit, is striving to develop a profound understanding of sport in Ireland that can inform policy and investment in the coming years.

The ISC has commissioned the Economic and Social Research Institute to undertake studies on its behalf. The fifth report in the series, Sporting Lives: An Analysis of a Lifetime of Irish Sport, sets out to track the participation of Irish people in sport over the course of their lives based on a survey of adult participation in sport in 2003. The data from the survey also allowed for an analysis of the amount and type of sport played in Ireland in recent decades and the relationship between participation in sport and personal health. The report concludes that the current generation of Irish adults are playing more sport than previous generations. That is an extremely positive outcome and one with which, collectively, we should be very pleased. Interestingly, the report indicates that 76% of all sport for people over 18 years consists of individual activities rather than team-based sports. The report also sets out the benefits of participation and concludes that people who participate in sport and exercise throughout their lives generally experience better physical and mental health than non-participants.

The report is not without its challenges, particularly with regard to gender gaps — as I mentioned to Deputy Upton — and socio-economic gaps in sports participation. Obviously the report requires careful consideration by the Department and the ISC with a view to assessing what changes might usefully be made to existing sports policy and such consideration is taking place.

The series of ESRI reports endorse the view that, as an activity with proven benefits, sport has a strong case for substantial public expenditure to support initiatives which can increase participation. This justifies the significant Government investment in sport in recent years.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

This increased investment has supported the promotion and development of Irish sport and the provision of a modern sports infrastructure, with high quality facilities catering for the participation, coaching, training and competition needs of all types of sport and at all levels. The amount of funding available for sport in 2008 is more than €335 million which will serve to further enhance and develop the sports sector. The increased funding provided for the ISC — from €13 million in 2000 to more than €57 million this year — has enabled a number of significant interventions for the benefit of disadvantaged areas. Examples include the local sports partnership network and the Buntús programme for primary schools in local sports partnership areas which involves children in sport from a very young age.

See this speech in context