Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

For the 685 projects approved last year, funding is continued into this year. There is a further overhang of projects in recent years that will also be completed. In total, some 1,000 projects are set for completion. Lottery funding is not, nor ever was, abrogated to my Department. Rather, it goes into the central Exchequer, along with all revenues to the State. That always has been the case. It is reasonable to conclude that the sports capital programme may have been partly funded by lottery money, which is allocated through the central Exchequer, over the years. However, there is no abrogated lottery funding that is ring-fenced to my Department for sports investment. I wish there were, but that has never been the case.

I will not deny that the prevailing budgetary situation poses a great problem for us all, not least in my own area of responsibility. Given the scale of the investment involved, I am seeking to establish, on a regional basis, where facilities are lacking. For example, some regions are strong in some areas and weak in others. The objective is to have a good balance across the regions. The way forward is to have a five-year strategic framework instead of funding almost anything that comes in provided it meets certain criteria. Now is the time for a slight pause. The current economic situation has implications for us, but I may as well take advantage of it by coming up with something positive.

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