Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans to maximise tourism and sporting opportunities ahead of the Olympic Games in London in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2500/06]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if funding will be provided to create sports training facilities ahead of the London 2012 Olympics in order to attract competing athletes from other nations; if same is viewed as a matter of urgency in view of the short timeframe; his plans regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2499/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 34 together.

The staging of the Olympic Games in London in 2012 will offer this country some great opportunities in the fields of tourism and sport, as well as in the wider business area. As a nation, Ireland must be prepared to take full advantage of its proximity to this event. As I have already indicated, I intend to establish an interagency group to oversee the development of a planned approach to ensure that such opportunities are maximised. Since the announcement last July that London was selected as the host city, I have availed of numerous opportunities to outline Ireland's eagerness to play a useful role and to be closely associated with the games. When I met David Hanson MP, Northern Ireland's Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, we discussed the opportunities for Northern Ireland and the Republic to benefit through mutual co-operation from the games. We will keep channels of communication open relating to our respective strategies around London 2012 and we are committed to close co-operation in this matter. I have also discussed the situation with Richard Caborn MP, the British Minister for Sport, who has warmly welcomed the approach being undertaken on an all-island basis here in Ireland.

The General Assembly of the European Olympic committees held in Dublin last month was another opportunity to promote Ireland's potential in regard to the games. It was attended by leading figures from World and European Olympic organisations, including the president of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge. It was also attended by the successful London bid team and its chairman, Lord Sebastian Coe. This major conference afforded a unique opportunity to draw the early attention of this highly influential group to the many services which Ireland can offer to Olympic squads from around the world. I take this opportunity to congratulate the president of the Olympic Council and his colleagues for hosting this conference which was of immense importance and brought great prestige to Ireland.

Clearly there are opportunities in the fields of sport around pre-tournament training for many of the countries participating. There will also be a tourism dimension for tournament visitors. In addition, there may be a number of sporting events in the years leading up to 2012 that could yield similar opportunities. The supply of economic services to London 2012 may also be another significant area of opportunity for which Irish business interests might benefit.

Given the lead-in time to 2012, there is scope to identify the precise nature of sports and ancillary facilities required by visiting countries to plan ahead. The type of facilities required by competing teams would be along the lines of those envisaged in the proposals for a sports campus at Abbotstown and existing to a certain degree in the University of Limerick. We are aware that 25 Olympic medals have been won by spokespersons from abroad who have used the existing facilities in Limerick.

The funding provided in December's budget, will allow work to commence in 2006 on the first phase of the Abbotstown sports campus to be completed by 2010. Complementing this are proposals currently under consideration for an Irish institute of sport, to deliver optimal support services for Olympic and Paralympic athletes and sports. These developments together with the ongoing provision of substantial funding for sports facilities at national and regional level under the sports capital programme will ensure that Ireland is on track to provide state-of-the-art facilities for sports men and women to train and prepare for competition at the highest level.

The Government will continue to invest significant funding in Irish sport which has already seen in excess of €500 million provided since 1997 for the development of sporting facilities. This funding has helped to develop facilities of international standard for many sports, including swimming, diving, rowing, hockey, tennis, basketball, boxing and athletics, and many of these facilities will be availed of in a structured way in the lead-up to the 2012 games.

From a tourism perspective, Ireland stands to gain significantly from the London Olympics in 2012. Our proximity and ease of access to the main venue, with our traditional selling points as a tourism destination — our people, culture and scenery — should make a stay in Ireland a very compelling proposition for both spectators and participants alike. There are points in Ireland which will have a closer proximity to the London games and greater ease of access than many parts of Britain.

Tourism Ireland as an all-island body will seek to maximise the tourism benefits of the Olympics to the island as a whole. In the lead-up to the event, Tourism Ireland will identify key opportunities in our overseas markets aimed at both competitors and spectators. This could include publicity messages in relevant markets should Ireland be successful in attracting countries for pre-training. The agency will work closely with Visit Britain, particularly in our new and developing markets and North America, to maximise awareness of Ireland as a close neighbour to the United Kingdom.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Obviously the Olympic games in London in 2012 are almost as significant as the Ryder Cup in regard to tourism and sport in Ireland. Given the competition for pre-training bases and bases for the actual games, has the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism been in contact with Irish Embassies around the world to ascertain their interest in seeking pre-training bases or bases in Ireland during the Olympic games? When will the interagency to which the Minister referred be put in place? Obviously it will include members of the Sports Council and the Olympic Council.

On the last day we discussed this issue the Minister and I said the GAA has its own identity and its own regulations. This is an opportunity to extend the hand of sport to ensure Ireland benefits most. The national sports councils that have facilities that would attract foreign countries to prepare a base here should be contacted. Given the Minister's success in representing the Government side in regard to Croke Park, although not involved in the decision-making process, this is another opportunity to extend the hand of sport through the mechanisms of the GAA, the IRFU and the FAI to facilities that can be used.

Apart from the Ryder Cup this is the most important sporting event here and in the UK since 1948. I hope we can use every facility and all the goodwill in sport in Ireland to attract as many countries as possible for pre-training or actual bases during the Olympic games. Have the Irish embassies been contacted? Are there possibilities in respect of sport organisations? When will the interagency be put in place? Will we see a detailed programme of events leading up to the games and a successful association with these games?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate Deputy Wall's intervention and recognise the important opportunities provided for Ireland as a result of the London Olympics 2012. We have to plan ahead. The agency will be established as soon as possible this year and will have the role of making the necessary contacts with a view to maximising the opportunities for Ireland. We should state our strengths. There has been considerable interest in the university in Limerick because of its facilities, including a fine swimming pool. There is also the National Aquatic Centre in Abbotstown. There are other sports we should target. Those that come to mind are rowing — we have a fine national rowing centre at Inniscarra — boxing and equestrian sports.

The first phase of Abbotstown should provide further facilities which will attract visiting teams. The new indoor arena which will be constructed in Abbotstown by the end of 2010 will provide for 30 minority sports so that I envisage us having facilities for groups interested. We have a range of facilities across the country that we did not have heretofore. Therefore, I anticipate a great degree of interest by visiting Olympic teams from across the globe. I am not saying they will all want to come here but some will. The University of Limerick has had inquiries. It is important to avail of the opportunity from a tourism perspective. That is why Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland will be involved in ensuring we maximise the amount of tourism revenue we can obtain from foreign sources as a result of people attending the games. In this context the continued strengthening of access to and from Britain by air is of immense importance. I sincerely hope this continues and I believe it will.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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The Minister referred to the University of Limerick and rowing. Is he aware of a very exciting proposal by the University of Limerick to build a top class facility for rowing that would cost in the region of €4.6 million? The university can provide €4 million of that amount. Would the Minister look favourably at providing the balance? I have asked him this question before.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The Deputy is introducing a new subject to the question.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Can I finish?

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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Yes, but the Deputy is not entitled to enlarge on the original question.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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The previous speaker introduced new subjects but the Leas-Cheann Comhairle did not interrupt him.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I have allowed both Deputies a great deal of latitude.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I am asking questions in response to what the Minister said. The rules should be applied fairly to everyone.

I tabled a question today on the institute of sport but it was ruled out of order by the Ceann Comhairle's office. The Minister recently referred to this matter. I do not know why the question was rejected by the Ceann Comhairle's office but I will take this opportunity to ask the Minister when he thinks the institute of sport will be provided and where it will be located. I agree with what he said. Whatever about the Olympic Games in 2012, it is most important to have a sports institute in this country, as exists in Australia and Canada, if we are to produce world class athletes.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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We will certainly give consideration to any application which the University of Limerick makes, although such an application would possibly be more appropriate to the Department of Education and Science.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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It will get nothing from that Department. The Minister's Department is the university's only hope.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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If Deputy Deenihan feels our Department is the only hope I suppose we will look at it and do what we possibly can.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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That is what it looks like.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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In reply to Deputy Deenihan's question on the institute of sport, we have had some important developments in recent months in the world of sport, namely the GAA's recognition in tangible terms of the integrity of its congress's decision with regard to Croke Park and the fact that we will start the sports campus at Abbotstown this year, allied to the application for planning permission having been lodged for Lansdowne Road. These are important milestones. To crown these, it would be important that we develop an institute of sport. In that context, the Sports Council is still formulating its plans. I do not know when exactly it will have them finalised. My view is straightforward, namely that we need an institute of sport if we are to assist elite athletes to reach their full potential. If we do that, hopefully they will be successful in the international arena which will make them role models and heroes and heroines for young people who, in turn, will be attracted into sport, thereby increasing participation levels.

Since becoming Minister for sport, I have always advocated the requirement for an institute of sport. This has had the Taoiseach's backing for a considerable period and he is of the same opinion. Therefore, I anticipate that we will be establishing an institute of sport. I cannot give the precise date or time but I sincerely hope we will be in a position to proceed with it this year.