Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)

The problem is that the magic fund of the Irish Sports Council is getting smaller by the minute. In 2008, it had €57 million and now its allocation is €49 million, representing a decrease of 13%. Out of its allocation, it must fund all the sports, including those under the remit of the sports inclusion disability officers. How far can the fund stretch without seriously damaging the work of the officers? Everybody agrees they have had a great impact and have been very inclusive. They have given people who might never have been able to participate in sport the opportunity to do so, not to mention the fact they have created employment.

While it is all very fine to say the Irish Sports Council has responsibility and that it is up to it to decide how to distribute its funds, it will not have sufficient funding. Somebody will have to suffer seriously. There is approximately €400,000 secured for the sports inclusion disability officer programme. A grant can be applied for, to a maximum of €25,000, which sum must be dedicated to salaries. I do not know where the money is coming from.

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