Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)

We all know how important participation in sport is for young and old, and how it brings communities together. Adequate funding should be in place for sports clubs and organisations in all our towns and villages and clubs constantly have to fundraise, which puts parents and fundraisers under financial pressure to support them.

The funding provided through the sports capital funds has had a very positive impact through the years on the areas that benefitted from it in the provision of sports facilities that otherwise clubs in local areas would have needed to fund and they might never have achieved building them at all.

Where a club or organisation has been successful in applications for capital funding in recent times, additional funding should be made available in the event of costs rising. It is the case that building costs are rising.

Funding for large-scale sporting infrastructure is an investment in our future sportsmen and women. These larger projects will ensure increased participation and encourage the younger generations to get involved. It is important that the required facilities for all kinds of sport, such as large stadiums like the Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, swimming pools and training facilities be funded in all these areas throughout the country to ensure those from rural areas have as much of a chance to pursue their sporting dreams as those coming from Dublin. Sport is such an important aspect for young people, people with disabilities and people with mental health issues, as it keeps people involved with their teammates and keeps them active in their communities. They make friends and it keeps them going. As much as possible should be done to ensure that teenagers and young adults stay involved, as many young girls in particular tend to drop out during their teenage years.

I especially want to thank the Minister of State. He will remember me from the last Dáil for being here on this side giving out about him a lot of days, about what was not being done and whatever, but it was nothing personal. I thank him very much for coming to Kerry in the summer months during the holidays and visiting the Kerry GAA Centre of Excellence in Currans and visiting Derreen. We are now seeking funding for Fitzgerald Stadium. We are looking forward in anticipation, hoping that the Minister of State will look after it. It is a massive stadium, but it is gone out of date, and it needs a lot of attention and to be redeveloped. I want to thank the Minister of State for the money that the Government has been given to Kerry, including to Glenflesk in recent times as well as Tuosist, where they are trying to move a mountain to build a football field in the heart of the Beara Peninsula. The Currans centre of excellence is of massive benefit to the people and players of Kerry. We think of the massive team that performed in Croke Park this summer. We must keep them going. The Fitzgerald Stadium is central to them, and it is where the Munster Final has always been played when in Kerry, but it needs to be revamped. Patrick O'Sullivan and his team - Pat the Tatler, we call him - have a massive plan in place to renovate and build this place like new. I am asking the Minister of State to look favourably upon it.

We welcome all the events that are coming to Adare in two years' time. There is also going to be a big event played in Doonbeg next year. Other members of the Trump family are looking forward to funding, and seeking funding, to ensure the smooth operation of that event. There is still a water main to be connected going down there. It is greatly in need of being replaced. I am asking the Government to ensure Irish Water has that done in a timely fashion. It is very important. We need to keep bringing visitors and events to this country and our counties to ensure the vitality and economic future of our country is safe.

I am asking that we look favourably on the rural clubs and, especially, rowing clubs that have made applications for funding in the next round. I appeal again to the Government to look very favourably on those.

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