Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

However, this must be based on a comprehensive submission from the council on how current funding will be allocated in 2014 and beyond. My priority is to see the taxpayers' hard-earned money is spent on sport and not wasted.

I also welcome the additional funding being provided for the indoor arena at the National Sports Campus. Since I first visited the campus two years ago, I have become a strong supporter of what it is trying to provide. The indoor arena is the final piece of major sport infrastructure missing and the gap is being addressed at last. This will help our athletes to compete with the best on the international stage.

Again, I saw some criticism of this because we have an indoor track at Athlone IT but the criticism misses the point. I was delighted to be at the opening of the facility in Athlone and we should have other such facilities around the country. The funding we have provided for sport demonstrates the Government's commitment to sport because we know the benefit it brings. It has an impact on jobs, the economy, social policy and, most importantly, the health of the nation.

I also welcome the retention of the 9% VAT rate. I compliment the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, and the Government for making a brave decision. Since the introduction of the 9% VAT rate, we have created 15,000 jobs in the tourism sector. I was delighted to see that the Minister for Finance got rid of the travel tax. Certain airlines have said they will bring 1 million extra passengers into the country next year. We have now reduced the tax and we want to see the airlines delivering on their promise.

We delivered on ours and I am saying to the airlines that they must now deliver and bring these passengers into Dublin, Shannon and Knock. We want to see those extra 1 million passengers next year.

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