Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy's question is interesting. I have met with representatives of the Irish Sports Institute which gave a fantastic presentation within the past few weeks. The range, breadth and depth of its activities with athletes is extremely substantial and would be equivalent to that provided by any international body of a similar nature.

It is unlikely that I shall set up the institute on a solo statutory footing. It is not necessary to do so and might not contribute anything. The institute has conveyed to me it wants to have the structure in place and the key people to deliver the kind of training needed.

There is another misunderstanding abroad concerning sport in Ireland. I was in Limerick this week and saw the facilities there. Some of the best known world athletes are coming to Limerick. I am currently trying to get a visa for Usain Bolt, who wants to come to the University of Limerick to train and use the facilities there. The All Blacks team told me that the facilities in Limerick were the best it had encountered and that there was only one other facility in the United Kingdom or Ireland that it considered to be on a par.

I agree with Deputy Upton. We need more facilities of this standard in order to have greater accessibility to and participation in sport in order to produce more athletes. That is my intention and the structures that the Institute of Sport is putting in place with the Irish Sports Council are very important.

The third point is vital to me. I have recently met with approximately 17 sports bodies. Their views on the various structures, what they believe works and what does not, have been an eye-opener for me. I am taking all that on board in looking at the overall structures and how we might progress in getting the maximum out of all the resources we are providing.

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