Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 2: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the recent ESRI report commissioned by the Irish Sports Council, Fair Play? Sport and Social Disadvantage in Ireland, that shows that people with low incomes and low educational attainment are far less likely to participate in sport than those with higher incomes and a third-level education; if he will implement any of the conclusions and recommendations of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19551/07]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 5: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the actions he will take to address the issues raised in the recent ESRI report on sport, particularly the need to redirect a much more substantial proportion of expenditure towards sports activities likely to benefit the disadvantaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19555/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 5 together.

I am aware that the Irish Sports Council, under its research remit, is striving to develop a profound understanding of sport in Ireland that can inform policy and investment over the coming years. It commissioned the Economic and Social Research Institute to undertake studies on its behalf. Four major reports have already been published, each one adding to our knowledge of sport in this country.

The fourth report in the series, Fair Play? Sport and Social Disadvantage in Ireland, to which the Deputy refers, set out to examine the impact of social disadvantage on various forms of participation in sport. The report concludes that the large majority of people who play sport in Ireland and who enjoy the health benefits arising from this activity are from higher income and better-educated social groups.

The report makes a clear case in support of substantial public expenditure to increase participation in sport. This justifies the significant Government investment in sport in recent years. The budget for sport has increased from €17 million in 1997 to over €295 million in 2007. By the end of 2006, over €900 million had been invested directly in sport since 1997 to support the promotion and development of sport at all levels. Furthermore, the National Development Plan 2007-13 includes a commitment to provide €991 million for sport under the aegis of my Department during that period.

The increased funding provided to the Irish Sports Council, from €13 million in 2000 to over €54 million this year, has enabled a number of significant interventions for the benefit of disadvantaged areas. Examples include the local sports partnerships network, development officers in national governing bodies and special funding to the FAI, GAA and IRFU.

The ESRI report concludes that disadvantage starts at an early age and there is evidence that disadvantage begins to affect some children's involvement in sport from a very young age. In this regard I am pleased that the Irish Sports Council's buntús programme is now rolling out to primary schools in local sports partnership areas.

One of the stated objectives of the sports capital programme is to prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of sports programmes. In this regard the Deputies will be aware of the RAPID and CLÁR programmes and local drugs task force areas. My Department liaises closely with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pobail and local authorities with a view to emphasising investment in disadvantaged areas.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I congratulate both the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Brennan, on their new positions. I am sure we will have many constructive debates.

This report highlights points I have been making for a long time and I will read an extract from the second paragraph on the second page. It states, "Seen in this light a concern with Irish sports policy is that it relies almost exclusively on improvements in facilities to increase involvement, with little contact or communication directed towards people who do not currently participate in sport." This represents a major problem.

Local clubs and teams cherry-pick the best players in estates that experience anti-social behaviour and nothing is being done to involve more children from the areas highlighted in the report. I asked the previous Minister to examine this issue because there is a need to provide personnel along with facilities and, in doing so, move the goalposts regarding funding. Some clubs have used funding for the advancement of their communities while others have used it for members' facilities and this is where questions arise. Can the Minister direct the Irish Sports Council to have more involvement in communities, rather than clubs? We must foster communities, rather than clubs, around the facilities that have been provided.

Sports partnerships are a good thing but are understaffed. In local sports partnerships in Kildare only two people cater for 150,000 people and this is not enough to address the problems that exist. Can the Minister move the goalposts towards the facilities and personnel aspects of lottery funding? Can he increase the number of staff involved in local sports partnerships to give them the opportunity to build on the good work that is being done?

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I will look at the issues the Deputy has raised. None of us can be proud of the conclusion in the report that the large majority of people who play sports in Ireland, and who enjoy the health benefits arising from those activities, are from higher-income and better-educated social groups. It is good that these people benefit but, having spent almost three years at the Department of Social and Family Affairs, I know that sport can play a significant role in tackling disadvantage. I propose, during my time in this office, to give priority to those experiencing disadvantage because sport provides great opportunities to tackle the issue and make a difference to communities, individuals and broken families. We must try to absorb the findings of this report and focus more on bringing the benefits of sport to disadvantaged areas, communities and individuals. I will return to the House on this issue because I intend to put a significant amount of work into the area.

Local sports partnerships have received €16 million in Government funding since they were set up in 2001 and I have heard the Deputy's comments about Kildare. A major initiative on disability officers and areas of disadvantage has come about through the dormant accounts fund and we will press ahead with such projects.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I appeal to the Minister to listen to the Opposition, whatever roles we may have next September. Over the past five years Deputy Wall and I came up with many ideas and they were not always heard or implemented. I think this Minister will listen to us and we are prepared to provide him with good ideas and initiatives.

The Minister is obviously in agreement with the report and it is stark in its analysis. It is based on the available data so it is almost certain that public money spent on sport in Ireland is regressive and represents a transfer of resources from the less well-off to the better-off. The report plainly shows that levels of participation in sport depend on household income and educational attainment and this is not right. I ask the Minister to intervene through local sports partnerships and schools. I posed the following question to the previous Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. Will the Minister give priority to applications for lottery funding for sport halls which are submitted jointly by schools in a disadvantaged area and local sports clubs? A change in policy in this regard would lead to sports halls being provided in disadvantaged areas nationwide. Will he consider this request when allocating national lottery funds?

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I will consider the Deputy's proposal. Anyone who works with me knows that I listen to ideas, including suggestions from the Opposition parties. The Deputy should be careful what he recommends because he might not be too pleased if I act on his suggestions.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I have recommended this course of action for a long time. The Minister would gain from it.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I will listen carefully to Deputies' suggestions. I will examine Deputy Wall's interesting proposal to fund sport in communities as opposed to clubs. I do not have sufficient knowledge of the issue Deputy Deenihan raises but I promise to find out about it before sittings resume in September.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Perhaps the Minister is unaware of the two-tier system in sport. Summer camps, a brilliant facility, are being arranged all over the country. As a former Minister for Social and Family Affairs, the Minister will be aware that a single parent on social welfare receives around €185 weekly. Enrolling a child in a summer camp would cost almost €70 or almost half of his or her weekly income. For this reason, it is not an option.

I hope the Minister and the Irish Sports Council will inform organisations which organise summer camps, for instance, the GAA and FAI, that they must reduce the horrendous fees they charge as they prevent wider participation and a greater social mix. Most of the costs of summer camps are associated with equipment. Will the Minister make representations to the Irish Sports Council to ensure wider participation in these camps, even if it means a young lad no longer gets a sports jersey at the end of the camp because this may prevent his neighbour or friend playing? One can imagine the effect that exclusion from such events for financial reasons must have on children from families in the lower-income bracket.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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This is a timely debate with an ESRI report published recently and an exchange on this matter on the floor of the House. It is time to take a long, hard look at this issue and I will do so urgently.