Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason for cutting the funding to the sport in disadvantaged areas scheme by 25% in the 2008 budget; his views on whether this will necessitate the removal of several programmes in some of the most disadvantaged areas here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4754/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Through my Department special funding of €1.5 million has been allocated from the dormant accounts fund this year to provide opportunities for persons with a disability to participate in sport and physical activity by way of the appointment of sports inclusion development officers in local sports partnerships. In 2007 funding of almost €2 million was allocated from the dormant accounts fund through my Department for projects to increase participation in sports and recreation in disadvantaged areas.

My colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, has overall responsibility for dormant accounts spending and the funding through my Department is an element of a larger set of economic and social disadvantage funding measures. In addition to these special measures under the dormant accounts fund, my Department also provides funding for sports in disadvantaged areas through the Irish Sports Council and the sports capital programme.

My Department funds the Irish Sports Council, the statutory body responsible for the development of sport in Ireland, and has allocated over €57 million to the council in 2008. This significant level of funding has enabled a number of significant interventions for the benefit of disadvantaged areas. Examples include the local sports partnerships, LSP, network, the Buntús programme for primary schools in LSP areas, development officers in national governing bodies and special funding to the FAI, the GAA and the IRFU.

Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country towards the provision of sport and recreational facilities. One of the stated aims and objectives of the sports capital programme is to prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of facilities. Since 2002, those areas that have been designated by Government for special support through the schemes administered by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, namely, RAPID, local drugs task forces and CLÁR areas, are treated as disadvantaged under the programme. Projects identified as being located in areas designated as disadvantaged are targeted and prioritised in a number of ways during the assessment of applications. Successful projects under the sports capital programme in CLÁR and RAPID areas may qualify to receive additional top-up funding, payable by the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, in addition to their sports capital allocation.

In 2007 over 1,530 applications were received for the programme and provisional allocations totalling €85 million were made to 935 projects. Grants totalling €38.68 million were allocated to 455 projects in disadvantaged areas under the 2007 sports capital programme. My colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, has announced top-ups for qualifying grantees of just over €6.9 million.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for that detailed explanation of how the money is distributed. My key point was that a very modest amount of money was set aside for disadvantaged areas. In 2007 that was €2 million and in 2008 it has been cut back to €1.5 million. All the other moneys are available and under the sports capital programme they have always been there. This is additional money dedicated, I thought, to disadvantaged areas for minor or smaller projects. My concern is that those small projects may lose out because of the money being depleted. There is a cutback of €500,000 and in real terms it is more than that, given that there was a reduction from €2 million in 2007 to €1.5 million in 2008. It is a modest amount of money but I wonder why the tranche of money dedicated to disadvantaged areas was reduced.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I am glad Deputy Upton gave me a chance to clarify this because there is no cutback, although I can see how somebody reading it cold could come to that conclusion. These are two different schemes. In 2007 a once-off amount of €2 million from the dormant accounts fund was allocated to 781 projects in disadvantaged areas. That was a once-off allocation from that fund, which is not normally built into the spending of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. The next year, in 2008 and going on into 2009, there is a figure of €1.5 million. While that appears to be a reduction, as the Deputy said in her question, it is a different scheme.

The second scheme is a disability programme to do with the employment of special inclusion development officers and again comes from the dormant accounts as a once-off payment in each of the two years so we are unable to compare like with like. The funding the Deputy should be aware of is the figure I stated earlier regarding 1,530 applications and the amount which went to disadvantaged areas. There is no precise calculation but perhaps up to half of the funding for sport is going to targeted areas of disadvantage. I can get more accurate figures in that regard. While it would not be fair to compare these two figures, I can see how somebody coming cold to the situation might compare them. I confirm they are different schemes and are once off.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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While I appreciate what the Minister is saying, in 2007 there appears to have been a once-off payment of €2 million and a once-off payment in 2008 of €1.5 million — admittedly for different projects. However, it is a smaller once-off subscription whether in the area of either disadvantage or disability. It appears to be a reduction of €500,000 however that money is directed.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The dormant account situation is unusual. Any Department that gets an offer of some millions of euro for any of its projects is happy to receive and allocate that money, which is what we did in this case. We allocated it on the basis of the area needing it at the time. A significant proportion of our investment in sport is targeted at disadvantage. Having spent a few years at the Department of Social and Family Affairs, I intend to increase the emphasis on disadvantage.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the additional funding that has been made available to the Irish Sports Council to prepare for the Olympics in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4986/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to sport as evidenced by the continued, substantial investment in sport, with a total sports budget of €336 million in 2008. The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Sports Council is the statutory body responsible for the development of sport in Ireland and that the level of funding to the Olympic bodies, national governing bodies of sport and elite athletes is therefore a matter for the Irish Sports Council in the first instance. In 2008, my Department has allocated more than €57.3 million to the Irish Sports Council, an increase since the last Olympic year of €26.6 million, some 86.4%.

One of the Irish Sports Council's primary functions is to encourage the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport and the achievement of excellence in competitive sport. In this regard, the Irish Sports Council works in partnership with the Irish Institute of Sport, the Olympic Council of Ireland, OCI, the Paralympic Council of Ireland, PCI, and the relevant governing bodies of sport in the preparation and participation of Irish competitors at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. I am informed by the Irish Sports Council that significant progress has been made to date by all the agencies in preparation for the Beijing Olympics and Paralympic Games.

The Olympic and Paralympic Councils of Ireland are the agencies responsible for the organisation and participation of the Irish teams at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Irish Sports Council provides annual funding to both councils for administration and programme costs aimed specifically at preparation for the games. The OCI and PCI have responsibility for a number of areas including team selection, following nominations from governing bodies of athletes that have reached qualification standards; selection of support personnel; team manager training programmes; preparation visits to Beijing by key personnel; heat and acclimatisation strategy; the organisation of multi-sport camps in advance of the games; all logistics at games time; and liaison with the organising committee and the International Olympic Committee.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Primary responsibility for the preparation and performance of individual athletes rests with the relevant national governing body or, in the case of Paralympic sports, the Paralympic Council of Ireland. I have invited the ISC, the OCI and the PCI to meet with me shortly to hear at first hand the preparations being made for Beijing.

Arising from the Sydney review published in 2001 and the Athens review published in 2005, the Irish Sports Council has introduced many initiatives and programmes to enhance the preparations of Ireland's Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

Many Irish athletes are preparing to compete at or qualify for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing. I am assured by the ISC that planning has been comprehensive and well funded, with plans implemented by top quality professionals at every step. The ISC has defined success as meeting its target of six finalists at the Olympics. This target is still in place and hopefully will be achieved.

Tomorrow, I will be announcing the Irish Sports Council's package of investment in high performance sport in 2008. This comprehensive package will cover every aspect of Olympic and Paralympic preparation and will continue to develop and support elite sport in Ireland.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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While that is a lot of talk, it does not hide the reality that in this Olympic year the Irish Sports Council's allocation, in effect, decreased. While there is a €3.3 million increase in money terms on last year, that figure coincides exactly with the amount of money to go to the GAA players. It had been promised that this money would be additional. In effect, the Irish Sports Council, which is responsible for grant aiding the Olympic Council of Ireland and the athletes, has less money in this Olympic year.

I am sure the Minister must be aware that far more intensive preparation is required this year. The athletes need to go abroad and participate in more events in order to qualify for the Olympics. We must be the only participating country with less money available to sport than last year. There is no point comparing to the last Olympic year. In comparison to last year, the Irish Sports Council effectively has less money to give to athletes. Can we really be serious? Was the Minister lobbied in any way? Did anybody point out to him that this is an Olympic year and that if we are serious about giving the type of high performance that encourages young athletes to come forward, we need to allocate at least a small token increase to show that we regard it as something important?

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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It is much more than a token. Tomorrow, I will announce the Irish Sports Council's package of investment in high performance sport for next year, which is a very comprehensive package. Government funding to sport has increased by 14% since last year, which is significant. Bringing home the medals is not just a matter of piling in funds. I will ensure that any funds that are needed to ensure success are made available. The current Olympic cycle is from 2005 to 2008. The level of funding to the Irish Sports Council is €186 million. In this cycle, in preparing for these Olympic Games, the funding to the Olympic Council of Ireland has increased by 74%, which is a significant investment. We need everyone to pull together and for all the organisations to work towards a common goal of having a successful Olympic Games. That is not just about medals; it is about participation also and building a good strong team for these and future Olympics.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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That is all very well. It is possible to do anything with figures. However, can the Minister confirm that the allocation to the Irish Sports Council this year was €3.3 million more than last year, which is the precise amount of additional money to go to the GAA players? In effect the amount of money going to all sports, with the exclusion of horseracing and greyhound racing, has decreased in real terms in this crucial year of the Olympic Games.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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No. I am telling the Deputy that the overall Government allocation to sport is €336 million.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am asking about the allocation to the Irish Sports Council, which funds the Olympic team.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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That is an increase of 14% on last year's funding of €297 million.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is being disingenuous.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Sports Council allocation is €57.3 million, which is an increase of 6.1%.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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It is an increase of €3.3 million — exactly what is going to the GAA players, which was supposed to have been additional money.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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My brief says the 2008 allocation to the Irish Sports Council is €57.3 million, which is an increase of 6.1%.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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It is an increase of €3.3 million no matter how the Minister explains it.