Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for being late. I had understood my issue was the third to be taken. I apologise to the Ceann Comhairle for delaying the proceedings.

On my behalf and on that of the officials in my Department, I wish to extend my sympathy to my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, on the passing of his mother, Ruth Isabel Ross. This is the first opportunity I have had to say as much in the House. As the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, I wish to formally extend my sympathies to the family of Anthony Foley family on his passing. Go ndéana Dia trócaire orthu.

I welcome the opportunity to respond to Deputy Farrell's topical issue on Lusk 2020. In recent years, there has been a certain level of engagement between sports partnerships, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and local communities. This is something we are trying to continue, build on and develop. I compliment Fingal County Council on the manner in which it has embraced this process in recent years through initiatives undertaken by the council as well as with local sports partnerships throughout the country.

There is an important aspect to this from the point of view of the Dáil and the Oireachtas in general. Many Members will be keen to ensure that projects are included in the sports capital programme for 2017 and they have been pressing me on the matter. I will be announcing details shortly in this regard. Deputy Farrell is correct about the importance of the sports capital programme and the investment that can be achieved through working with local initiatives such as the project in Lusk. A bottom-up approach is far more palatable and desirable than asking Sport Ireland or the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to do everything. Local initiatives and partnership-based models are the way to go. Only last week I launched a report at the sports campus in Abbotstown on the effectiveness of the sports partnership model. There are opportunities for local communities throughout the country to engage more with their local authorities as well as for local authorities to do more. Some local authorities are exemplary in this regard and really engage with their local communities when it comes to providing a holistic plan and developing a strategy.

Deputy Farrell asked me to examine documentation for Lusk 2020. I would welcome the opportunity to receive the information in the Department and review it. In recent years, a good deal of money has been allocated to local sports partnerships. In the past year in excess of €5 million was allocated by my Department to sports partnerships. This is not an insignificant amount and we are keen to ensure we get the best result from it. Since 2011 we have had three different allocations of sports capital. This has resulted in significant investments being made outside of the main capital programme, which we also hope to revise in 2017. Using this mechanism, I will be seeking significant investment in major infrastructure of a sporting nature at national and regional level. I agree with the remarks of Deputy Farrell in this regard. There is also an opportunity for organisations to work collaboratively with the local authorities. Local authorities that are reflective of their local communities in developing these projects have been far more successful. I am keen to empower, encourage and stretch sports partnerships to deliver even more in their local areas. An opportunity exists in this regard and this example may well prove to be exemplarily to other areas in the country as a model to study and emulate. I am keen to see what Lusk 2020 is proposing and I welcome the opportunity of bringing the documentation before the Department.

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