Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 8: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the role his Department plays in facilitating the level of co-operation between public health policy and promotion and sport policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10847/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government recognises the major role that sport can play in enhancing the health of people through active participation. The Irish Sports Council, ISC, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body responsible for encouraging the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport and for increasing participation in recreational sport. My Department and the ISC liaise with the Department of Health and Children and the HSE on matters of mutual concern.

Officials from my Department and the council have actively participated in the development of key initiatives such as, for example, the national children's strategy and the task force on obesity. The ISC participates in various working groups and committees of both the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health and Children on broad public health issues. For example, the chief executive officer of the ISC chaired the national obesity task force and also serves on a number of other groups including the national implementation committee for the children's strategy and a high level group on cardiovascular disease prevention.

At national level, the ISC has developed a close working relationship with the population health function of the HSE and has regular meetings with it to discuss areas of common interest and possible co-operation. In recent years the ISC has received funding from the HSE of €200,000, which is used to promote programmes that target obesity at local level through the local sports partnerships, LSPs.

My Department and the council also worked with the Department of Health and Children to secure support from the dormant accounts fund to employ social inclusion development officers in 20 LSPs throughout the country to promote participation opportunities for people with a disability. This year, funding of €1.5 million has been allocated from the dormant accounts fund for this initiative.

With regard to the LSPs, all of the LSP boards and committees include a local officer representing the HSE. In most cases, the HSE representative works directly in the area of health promotion with an emphasis on physical activity promotion. As part of the work of the LSPs, they develop a local strategic plan for sport and this plan is closely linked to the positive health messages endorsed by the HSE. Furthermore, the LSPs deliver programmes and projects in conjunction with the HSE to target specific groups that have traditionally low levels of participation in sport and physical activity. Examples of these types of projects include participation programmes for older people, women and people from areas of disadvantage.

The ISC is committed to the roll out of the LSP network on a nationwide basis to increase participation at a local level, ensure that local resources are used to best effect and to make sure that the experiences of participants in sport are positive. This network is due to be completed later this year, with 33 sites established covering the whole country.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister referred to the obesity taskforce. My understanding is that many of the sections of its report are gathering dust and little progress has been made. It is very important that the Department with a responsibility for sport has an input and that there is interaction with the Department of Health and Children. What is the role of the Department of Education and Science in terms of interaction? There is a need for considerably more joined-up thinking. A delegation appeared before a committee yesterday from the Federation of Irish Sport. One of the points it made was that a cross-departmental interaction is required, especially including education.

There is a significant drop-out rate among young people playing sport in the 15 years to 19 years age group. That is an age when one hopes young people are retained within sporting activities but, unfortunately, for a variety of reasons they seem to drop out. The encouragement does not seem to be there. What we are trying to do is to lay down the framework for healthy lifestyles.

To return to the debate we had last night on primary schools, there is a lack of adequate PE facilities in many schools. Again, what we are trying to do there is put down the building blocks and give young children an opportunity. If we do not do that at a very early age then we cannot expect that they will be able to maintain an interest in sport because they will never have had that opportunity. I would like to hear the Minister's comments on the role of primary schools in regard to sport and health and the factors that influence the drop out of teenagers, especially between the ages of 15 years and 19 years according to the reports.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We are all learning that health is a multifaceted area that needs to be supported and tackled with a range of resources. We referred to obesity and research and how sport can be used as a weapon against obesity, and by virtue of that against ill health.

The role of the alcohol industry is an important one. The question is whether we can continue the double think of supporting the industry at one level and denouncing it at another level, especially in the context of sport. I do not have the figures for the drop-out rate of young people aged between 15 and 20 but I know it is substantial. We do need to address that issue to try to hold on to young people. It is not easy to hold on to them up to the age of 15 but beyond that other interests present and it becomes increasingly difficult to continue to retain them in sporting activities. That is why the Irish Sports Council programmes are very important.

Deputy Upton inquired about obesity. I recognise that issue has to be addressed at various levels, including diet. Lifestyle is an important factor in obesity and environmental issues. The role of sport is very much at the centre of health promotion. Sport can play a leading role in tackling obesity. We are making every effort to ensure that is happening and to bring about joined-up Government in terms of health, sport, the environment and various Departments and agencies that have a direct involvement in it.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There is no disputing the correlation between physical activity and better health and we have had all the warning signs that our population is heading in the wrong direction. I feel sorry for the Minister because to talk about a drop-out rate is one thing, but so many children never participate in a sport because there are so few facilities in schools. Even in our constituency many schools have no sports hall. It is no wonder they do not get involved in sport, get no interest in sport and, if they take to a sport, drop out, particularly girls.

From the lottery funding point of view, now that we have many facilities around the country there is an opportunity to be more focused on what facilities are provided in future. Given that the Department of Education and Science has little interest in sport, is there a case to be made for changing the guidelines to ensure facilities provided are placed near schools so that if a school has no sports ground, children have access to them? Few grants of the capital lottery money go to public, State schools. Am I correct?

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Yes.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Some have gone to private schools. There is an assumption that State schools will receive funding from the Department of Education and Science but that is not happening. Perhaps it falls to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism to target facilities that would be available to school children. I have raised the issue and I know Deputy Brennan is examining the guidelines for the applications to try to be more focused and get multi-user and multi-ownership of facilities. That is the key to getting participation at an early age.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Now that the sports capital programme is so many years old and has provided so many thousands of infrastructural projects up and down the country we are examining the next round of that and how we can make it even more effective. One way to do that is to ensure facilities can embrace the educational system. That might be as simple as ensuring a facility is built on an adjacent site or in consultation with a school, or it might be more complicated. We are closely examining the notion that facilities built through the sports capital programme would be available to schools. We did not do this in the past because we were focused on providing the facilities for the clubs, agencies, towns and teams. In this round we can examine synergies between schools and the lottery funding.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I refer to the first part of the Minister's reply and the drop-out rate for 15-19 year olds. The Minister made many soothing noises, which are all very reassuring. He said we must address it, but what exactly will we do, who will do it and when will it happen? This problem has been around for a long time. The drop-put rate remains consistently high, yet nothing has happened. Can we have an action plan, a timeframe and some definites about when it will be in place?

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It would be unfair for any of us to give the impression that nothing is going on in that area and I do not think Deputy Upton suggests that. Many schools are trying hard and doing their best for students from age 15 upwards and putting on physical education programmes. An amount of the sports capital programme money allocated in recent years has gone to more than 60 different sports. We tend to think of football when we look at that scheme but there is a range of up to 60 other sports and they engage the attention of many 15 to 19 year olds in quite a systematic way. Quite an amount is going on, Deputy Upton says we can do more and that is true. I will take a close look at the options available.