Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

Within the remit of the Department, the National Development Plan 2007-13 makes provision for allocations to the culture sub-programme, the sports sub-programme and the tourism programme.

The Department's role in the culture sub-programme relates to the development of Ireland's cultural infrastructure. The aim is to protect and showcase our cultural heritage, to support the Government's policy on universal access to arts and cultural facilities and to assist the tourism industry in product development in this area. In the three years of operation of the current national development plan, the Government has allocated almost €170 million for these purposes.

Similarly, the sports sub-programme seeks to develop our sports infrastructure by providing grants for a range of sports bodies at the local and regional level, including swimming pool facilities, and by providing supports and facilities that will allow Irish athletes to compete on an equal footing with their international competitors.

The sub-programme also seeks to develop national-level sports facilities, such as the new stadium at Lansdowne Road as well as the continued development of the horse and greyhound industries. We saw also Thomond Park open this year. Up to 2009, more than €420 million has been allocated for these purposes, which represents by any standard an impressive contribution to the sports and recreational infrastructure of this country.

The tourism programme seeks to invest in international marketing, in the development of tourism product and infrastructure, and in training and human resources. To date, the tourism programme has benefited under the NDP to the tune of almost €239 million.

As part of its ongoing work to take measures to stabilise the public finances, the Government has been examining all current and capital expenditure, including that planned in future years as part of the national development plan.

As is the case every year, NDP funds are provided through the annual Estimates process for the Department. The Estimates process in respect of 2010 is currently in train and the outcome will be announced in the forthcoming budget.

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