Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Like previous speakers I welcome the Bill, which will bring about a merger between the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority. Any merger which will result in efficiencies, improvements and shared services, in particular at a time when money is scarce – as the Minister of State is very well aware – is to be welcomed. I congratulate the Minister of State on his recent reappointment to the position. As Minister of State with responsibility for sport I am aware he has a huge passion for sport. I often see him on TV at various events that take place. He puts a lot of time and effort into promoting sport in Ireland. He is very suited to the role he has taken on.

The creation of a single entity, Sport Ireland, will make a difference. The sports campus at Blanchardstown is one where world-class training will be provided for sports people in future. The National Aquatic Centre is located there and the diving training centre, the horse sport arena and the pentathlon centre are already constructed. They are very much state of the art and will help elite sports people to compete at the highest level and to stay in this country and achieve excellent results.

A new national indoor athletics track, an indoor sports centre and a gymnastics training centre have been provided for in the budget. Could the Minister of State provide an update on how the work is progressing? The previous speaker referred to indoor sports such as basketball, badminton, squash and handball. What assistance will be provided for such fringe sports in the national sports arena to encourage more participation in them? Has a study been carried out on the number of sports in which the country competes internationally? If we have the information we could dedicate the small resources we have to certain sports such as boxing, sailing and equestrian sports in order to achieve the best results in areas that provide the best opportunity for achieving medals, for example, in the Olympics. There is a case to be made for us to focus more on an international level on the sports in which we achieve more success. It is important that sport is funded adequately in this country. We want to see more sports people competing and doing the country proud, as it brings great pride to the country and we all get a lift in our spirits when Irish athletes compete and do well internationally.

Childhood obesity is linked to children not competing in sports. They play computer games indoors rather than play outside. Has the Minister of State given any thought to having a national sports day to encourage schoolchildren to compete? Perhaps he would even tog out himself in order to encourage more participation in sport which is good for health and physical and mental well-being. Obesity is a scourge among children at present. We must take more preventative action in order to keep people out of hospital so as to avoid further strains on hospital resources in the future.

Sports clubs and organisations are the cornerstones of our communities and provide an important outlet for local residents to socialise. Sports clubs bring communities together. We are all familiar with the GAA and the great impact it has had on the country. Everyone gets involved and follows the local parish team. It is the same with soccer clubs. Such participation very much helps communities.

Sports grants, in particular the sports capital funding scheme, which the Minister of State has reopened – there have already been two rounds – have been most successful. I congratulate the Minister of State on all the work he has done in that regard. I accept the resources are limited and it is difficult to please everyone. It is important that all parts of the country get a fair crack of the whip. In my constituency, football clubs in particular have benefitted, for example, Kilbarrack United FC, Mid Sutton FC, St Malachy's in Edenmore and Howth Celtic. Other local sporting organisations that have benefitted include Howth yacht club and the sailing and boating club, Trinity Boys boxing club, Clontarf tennis club, Clontarf yacht club and Suttonians hockey club in Sutton. A number of local GAA clubs were also successful with their funding applications including Parnells in Coolock. I am not sure whether the Minister of State has had an opportunity to visit the club yet but it is a fine establishment that is doing great work in helping young children to compete in Gaelic games. As the Minister of State is aware, such work is very important for various reasons.

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I hope there will be a programme next year and in the coming years. The fund provides great help and support to clubs badly in need of investment to keep games alive.

The Irish rugby teams, both women and men, have done very well in recent years. The captain of the Irish women's rugby team, Fiona Coghlan, hails from my constituency of Dublin Bay North, so I kept a close eye on the great success of the team in defeating New Zealand and reaching the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup. Raheny United is a football club in my constituency that is doing well at its level of the Champions League.

I hope the success of Irish sportsmen and women nationally and internationally encourages more people to get involved in sport. Sport has a positive effect on health and provides a social outlet that allows people to meet in sports clubs and the like. Lifelong friendships can be made between sporting competitors.

Regarding the Bill, I note that the Minister will appoint the first chief executive officer, CEO, and that thereafter the board will appoint his or her successors. Will the Oireachtas committee have a role to play in this process? Will the appointment of a specific nominee be debated in the committee before it is decided? What efficiencies will come about as a result of the merger? Will there be redundancies or will savings be achieved through natural wastage over time? I know, for example, there will only be one CEO, rather than the two currently employed, so that is a saving in terms of management. More information would be helpful.

Alcohol sponsorship in sport is thorny subject, as the Minister of State is aware, and I know this country has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. However, alcohol companies are providing funding to sport that is needed by various organisation but is there a plan to wean them from such sponsorship and remove alcohol from the sports equation? I know this will take time but I believe a working group in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of the Taoiseach is examining this subject. Can the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, give us a report on this?

I am sure the Acting Chairman, Deputy Derek Keating, is delighted that Dublin will host Euro 2020 matches and I too welcome this news as it is a boost for Dublin. I congratulate the Minister of State on this legislation, wish him well and ask that he respond to the issues I raised.

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