Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 8: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism further to the opening of the new national rowing centre in Cork, his views on the need to upgrade and develop more sporting facilities here in order to capitalise on the proximity of Ireland to the 2012 Olympic Games in London; if such an audit of facilities is under way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19250/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The previous Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism established a high level London 2012 task force to ensure Ireland can identify and maximise the complete range of opportunities arising from our proximity to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London 2012. This task force includes experts from the sport, tourism, cultural and business sectors and is supported by staff within my Department.

One of the first pieces of work that the task force carried out was an audit of high quality facilities suitable to attract international athletes to train in the years running up to the London 2012 Games.

The superb national rowing centre in Cork is one of the facilities the audit has examined. Given the paramount training requirements of Irish Olympic and Paralympic athletes and the exacting requirements of Olympic and Paralympic standard facilities, the audit has concluded that there is a limited capacity to host foreign Olympic and Paralympic athletes in training camps in Ireland prior to the London 2012 Olympic Games, although I have asked the Department to look again at this.

In parallel with the audit and to better inform the future work of the task force, my Department appointed Indecon International economic consultants to carry out an economic evaluation of the benefit to the island of Ireland of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. This evaluation is now nearing completion. Overall, the most important economic benefits likely to accrue to Ireland from our proximity to the London Games are in the tourism and business sectors.

In the sporting sector, more significant economic benefits are likely to accrue in attracting Olympic qualification tournaments to Ireland. Our experience to date in attracting major sporting events to Ireland, such as the Special Olympics and the Ryder Cup, has been very positive and the economic impact of such events is far greater than that arising from a small number of elite athletes training for limited periods. My Department, in consultation with the Olympic Council of Ireland, the Irish Sports Council and the national governing bodies of sport, is pursuing a number of high profile Olympic qualification events that will benefit the economy and give Irish athletes home advantage in their quest to qualify for the London Olympic Games.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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How many actual facilities meet the training brief for international athletes for the Olympic Games? Did only the national rowing centre in Cork and Abbotstown meet the necessary criteria? It seems funny to say we do not have the facilities but will look to host qualifications for the Olympic Games. The national boxing stadium recently hosted the European Union championships, in which Irish boxers were very successful, winning five out of 11 titles. Does the Minister intend that we host individual events such as boxing or triathlon, which was recently held very successfully in Kildare? Can the Minister say how many facilities there are and what qualification events we are considering?

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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My predecessor established the London 2012 task force last August and it has done very good work. We are awaiting the final report of Indecon International economic consultants, which was commissioned by the task force and is nearing completion. I would prefer to postpone detailed discussion until I have the report but the task force is of a very high order and comprises very experienced people representing different organisations. They are all well aware of the opportunities for a number of sports to attract qualification rounds, such as basketball, boxing, equestrian events, hockey, rowing, sailing and soccer. I hope the House will have a full discussion on the report as soon as it is available.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I congratulate the Minister on his new appointment. Given the dearth of sporting facilities in Dublin North, what is the situation regarding the swimming pool grant in Balbriggan, which has very few sporting facilities? Are there any plans for one in Swords? What is the situation with regard to the Portmarnock sports and leisure centre pool?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is straying way outside the question.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Minister himself mentioned the need for training facilities for home athletes in the area.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are discussing the 2012 Olympic Games, which is a different matter.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Following the publication of the Indecon report, I suggest the Minister appoint an individual as a chief executive to spearhead the programme and the campaign to attract teams and their entourages to Ireland for the Olympic Games. I feel such a focus is required. A task force is one thing and it has performed well but we need a high-profile person to take responsibility for selling Ireland to various countries around the world.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I can certainly discuss that with the London 2012 task force in the context of the publication of the report. I would be interested in its members' advice on that subject.