Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 3: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will make special provision in the 2008 national lottery capital sports grants allocation to encourage the development of either municipal or community multisport facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19553/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations. It is the main vehicle for development of sports facilities at local, regional and national level. The programme is open to applications from local authorities and other community organisations for the development of multisport facilities. Under the 2007 programme, more than €5 million was allocated to multisport projects serving the wider community. This is on the back of sustained sports capital investment in this sector over the lifetime of the previous Government. In that period, sports capital funding of approximately €35.5 million was allocated to community or municipal multisport projects. These projects not only meet local needs but also add considerably to national and regional sporting infrastructure. This investment increases levels of participation and improves standards of performance.

As the Deputy may be aware, a national audit of sports facilities is ongoing. This will provide me with a more comprehensive picture of the distribution and availability of sports facilities across the country, including multisport facilities. I will examine the outcome of this audit, particularly in the context of the development of the national sports facility strategy and the structure of the sports capital programme. In addition, my Department will work closely with local authorities in the funding of key, multipurpose municipal sports facilities, which will be identified in the gateway and hub locations in the context of the implementation of the National Development Plan 2007-13.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the thrust of the Minister's response. While I realise that €5 million from a total budget of €80 million is a relatively small sum, a precedent has been established. I ask the Minister to place particular emphasis on encouraging the main outdoor sporting codes, notably rugby, soccer and GAA, to work together to provide simple, shared facilities such as changing and weights rooms and medical facilities. They could have their own ancillary facilities attached to these facilities. Opportunities for such co-operation are available across the country. We have seen changes in Croke Park and Lansdowne Road as a result of co-operation between the Gaelic, soccer and rugby codes. The Minister should urge the sporting bodies to engage in greater co-operation.

We have an ideal opportunity to emphasise to local authorities and the principal sporting organisations, particularly those involved in outdoor sports, including athletics, the importance of co-operation in providing shared local, multisport facilities. Such co-operation should also be encouraged among the indoor sports codes although indoor facilities generally cater for all indoor sports. The provision of facilities would be enhanced if such co-operation were encouraged.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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It is incumbent on all of us to get the best value for money from the annual budget of approximately €300 million. I accept the Deputy's thesis that sharing facilities and co-operation between various sporting bodies must be at the heart of this approach. To use dreadful business jargon we must sweat the assets because taxpayers' money is involved and must be used in a manner that delivers the optimum benefits. This means sharing facilities, co-operating where possible and avoiding wasteful duplication. This is common sense. I accept the allocation of €5 million for multisport facilities is low and I will examine it.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister plan to meet the national sporting organisations to discuss the concept of sharing facilities and the development of multisport facilities? It would be a good initiative if he were to bring these bodies together and encourage them to co-operate in the provision of these facilities.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I have had initial meetings on broad policy issues with the chief executive of the Irish Sports Council and representatives of other sporting bodies. I will meet representatives from all the major national governing bodies in sport in due course and I will keep the multisport concept firmly on the table. My focus will be to ensure the €300 million of taxpayers' money will be used for good, strong social purposes, does not result in duplication and maximises the benefits to taxpayers.