Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)

Sports capital grants have done great things in small communities right around the country. I remember playing football and togging out in places they would not tog out in nowadays. It is incredible what it has done. With the population increasing and different sports coming into play, more money should be put in to attract young people to get more of them involved in sport. The budgets must be available to help small clubs. The Government should put aside a budget for a loan scheme. Some clubs struggle to match the money. They would pay the loan back for the piece they have to pay themselves along with the sports capital grant. That should be looked at to help those small clubs. In Munster, there is Thurles, Limerick and Cork stadiums where concerts and different things go on as well as sports. In Leinster, there is the same. In Connacht, from Donegal down, we need a centre of excellence and, on top of that, a place for sports and to bring the west and north west together to host events. The airport in Galway would be a perfect site. It is near the motorway. That would help to facilitate it and give equal participation to all parts of the country.

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