Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated towards the provision of sports facilities at national, regional and local level. The programme, which is the primary vehicle for promoting the development of sports and recreational facilities, has transformed the sporting landscape of the State, with improved facilities in virtually every village, town and city. The facilities funded range from new equipment for the smallest clubs to regional multi-sport centres and national centres of sporting excellence.

More than 7,400 projects providing a range of essential sports facilities have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocation in that time to more than €725 million. In 2008, more than €50 million was allocated towards 685 separate sports facility and equipment projects. These grants continue to play a pivotal role in ensuring the provision of modern, high-quality facilities throughout the State that attract more people to participate in sporting activities.

My Department is currently finalising a five-year strategic plan to inform the future development of necessary sporting facilities throughout the State. The aim of the strategy is to provide high-level policy direction for future investment and grant assistance at national, regional and local level. The strategy will also identify the wider economic, health and social case for continued investment in sports facilities. It will aim to prioritise areas for future investment and to ensure continued impact on participation in the relevant areas, including those in lower socioeconomic groups. The national sports facilities strategy will address future sports facility funding and provision and will inform decisions on future rounds of the sports capital programme.

In the 2009 Estimates, €56 million was provided in my Department's Vote, part-funded from the proceeds of the national lottery, to cover payments to be made this year from the C1 subhead, out of which grants are paid for the provision of sports and recreation facilities. Any decision on future rounds of the programme will be considered in the context of the prevailing budgetary situation.

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