Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

I welcome the Deputy to the House and acknowledge his particular interest in sport. He has done an enormous amount of work to promote soccer in Wexford. It is great to see the election of sports enthusiasts to the House and I am sure the Deputy will participate in some of our activities in the coming years.

A draft national sports facilities strategy has been completed by my Department. The aim of the strategy is to provide high level policy direction for future investment, grant assistance at national, regional and local level and a co-ordinated approach across the various agencies and Departments involved in supporting the provision of sports and recreational facilities. The draft strategy identifies the wider economic, health and social argument for continued investment in sports facilities. It aims to prioritise areas for future investment and ensure continued impact in the relevant areas. It will provide an improved policy platform for any future rounds of the sports capital programme.

Since 1998 grants to the value of €730 million have been allocated under the sports capital programme to some 7,400 projects. In the current economic conditions it is crucial that we continue to recognise the importance of investment in sport for the social and economic development of the country. Given the wide benefits associated with participation in sports activities, continued targeted investment to maximise the benefits in the areas of health and well-being, social and cultural development, education, personal development, tourism and the economy is vital.

Following the completion of the transfer of functions order, the draft strategy will now fall to be considered by my colleague, Deputy Varadkar, in his role as Minister for Transport.

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