Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, is the primary vehicle for Government support for the provision of sports facilities and equipment. Since 1998, through the sports capital programme, the Government has invested over €725 million in over 7,400 separate sporting projects. This investment has transformed the Irish sporting landscape with improved facilities in virtually every village, town and city. The facilities funded range from basic sports facilities and new equipment for the smallest clubs, to regional, integrated multi-sport centres and national centres of sporting excellence.

This investment is evidence of the importance this Government places on sport. Sports facilities that are well planned, built and managed have the ability to act as focal points for a community and allow more people to get involved in healthy activities. Participation in sport is important for many reasons. For individuals, participation has health benefits, builds confidence and gives people a sense of their worth. For society as a whole, sport can reduce anti-social behaviour while sporting success has the ability to lift the spirits of whole counties and even the whole country.

Some €56 million has been provided in my Department's Vote in 2009 out of which grants are paid for the provision of sports and recreation facilities. Almost 1,200 payments with a total value of €43 million were approved by my Department from this subhead by close of business on 17 September last. All of the €56 million provision will be distributed to grantees in the current year.

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