Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Since this Government came into office, this Department has introduced initiatives to allocate funding to local authorities in particular. I refer to initiatives under the sports capital programme which are to help local authorities to provide facilities in areas where sporting organisations are not established. I refer to Mugga Parks where children can play volleyball or basketball. The Department allocated €1.2 million to the Irish Amateur Boxing Association. This association has provided facilities to young people over many years and may not have received sufficient funds from other sources and the sports capital programme. The association will administer the fund.

The swimming pools initiative is an upgrading of swimming pools in order to encourage more people, in particular people with disabilities, to avail of them. The local authorities have made the applications and we have spread that funding around the country. In all fairness to the Department, we have looked at areas which in the past may not have received the required funding. We are targeting areas where the facilities may not exist and to which they are entitled.

It is hoped to publish an new strategy to outline the Government position regarding the targeting of sport so more people will be encouraged to participate. A recent survey showed that 15% of the population do not take part in any kind of sport. This is bad for themselves and for their health. We would not need as many doctors, hospitals or surgeons if people would do the simple things, such as walking, cycling or such like. We are targeting these areas.

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