Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister and I are having good engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. It will certainly be listening closely to what Deputy Griffin said. We welcome that. The engagement with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, is also good. We are keen to get the programme open because sports clubs are waiting for it. They are keen to apply and are getting ready for it.

In response to Deputy Andrews, we will not abolish or replace this programme, which he previously called for. It is important. However, there is a point in urban and growing areas where clubs do not have facilities and the Deputy is correct about that. Quite frankly, in some areas they probably should not have their own facilities. It would be far more efficient for the local authority to have a multi-sport facility that is big enough for all clubs to use. That model will have to be considered in developing areas, including mine. There is huge demand. It is impossible for clubs to buy land. It is a real problem. We are looking at it. To be fair, the programme gives an opportunity to a huge number of clubs. We are focusing on disadvantaged areas. For example, the Deputy's colleague mentioned boxing earlier. I have said to the Irish Athletic Boxing Association, IABA, that we want to help boxing clubs. There are many boxing clubs around the country and they need better facilities. We are willing to help them as best we can.

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