Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the discussions with the Department of Education and Science that have taken place to promote and encourage the use of school halls and sports facilities for voluntary and community groups; the discussions he has had with the Department of Education and Science to enable barriers to be removed to allow access to facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10852/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Education and Science is represented on the inter-agency steering group established by my Department to oversee the development of a national sports facility strategy. The aim of the strategy is to provide high-level policy direction for future investment at national, regional and local level. Work on the development of the national sports facility strategy has included discussions with the Department of Education and Science on how its policy on the provision of sports hall facilities and my Department's policy for the provision of sports facilities might be complementary.

Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations, and in certain circumstances to schools and colleges throughout the country. It is the main vehicle for development of sports facilities at local, regional and national level throughout the country. Under the programme, priority is given to the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of sports facilities

Primary and post-primary schools that wish to be considered for funding under the programme may apply for funding jointly with local sports clubs or community groups, and they must meet other conditions including a requirement that the local community will have significant access to the proposed facility. This access must be for at least 30 hours a week throughout the year when it is not being used by the school itself. Any sports facility proposed for funding by a sporting organisation and which would be located within school grounds would have to meet these same conditions. I think that is reasonable. Applications from primary and post-primary schools and colleges on their own are not considered under the programme, as responsibility for the provision of sports facilities in schools and colleges is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Education and Science.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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There is a need for joined-up thinking on the interaction with the Department of Education and Science. All of the sporting groups that have recently come before the committee have spoken to us about the duplication of resources in a small town or a parish, where two or three halls might be available. There is a need to put in a place a system where people can find out why the school hall already in place cannot be used throughout the summer by sporting groups. It seems to be a huge waste of an available resource.

It may require some discussion, negotiation and possibly some financial exchanges of a modest variety. Community halls and school halls are publicly funded facilities and there is a need to open them up to the public.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy previously raised this issue with me and the need for joined-up thinking. Primary and post-primary schools that want to be considered for funding can apply jointly with local sports clubs. This is a change because until now, the sports capital programme was separate from the Department of Education and Science. We have formally agreed for the first time that we will work more closely with that Department and see whether joint applications for funds could be considered when awarding sports capital grants.

We are moving in the direction urged by the Deputy. We did not do that in the past, because there was sufficient demand for the sports capital programme on its own, without being drawn into the area of education.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I will not labour the point, but despite all the facilities that have been built, there is a problem with access. Many of the facilities that have a single owner, such as clubs composed largely of volunteers, find it extremely onerous to maintain a building. The financial burden and the workload would be significantly reduced if there was multi-ownership.

I wish to raise with the Minister a problem that was brought to my attention by my colleague, Deputy Olwyn Enright, in respect of the Birr Rugby Club. Apparently there is a rule that when an organisation receives a second grant under the scheme, it must obtain a document from the Chief State Solicitor's Office but there is enormous delay in obtaining said document. I understand that Birr Rugby Club has been forced to obtain a bank loan, which is costing it a fortune. It may have to carry that loan for up to one year. Perhaps something could be done to streamline that system.

I also wish to take this opportunity to wish the hurling team of my home town, Birr, the best of luck on Monday.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I appreciate the points about the future programme of sports capital funding, the interaction between clubs and schools and so on. However, my key point is that facilities are already in existence that have been paid for by the taxpayer but access to them is not available. Very often they are closed at 6 p.m. when many clubs would love to avail of them. Basketball Ireland, for example, would love to have access to a number of facilities that are available for use, but not available to them. The facilities are in place, the buildings are there but access to them is not. We must examine ways in which to make such facilities more widely available.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy knows, that is an old issue, which comes up regularly. Many of the difficulties are related to insurance issues and so on.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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We must find ways to get over the insurance issues. There must be a way around them.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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It is ridiculous.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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What I can offer is that if funding is jointly applied for by sports clubs, community groups and/or local schools, whether primary or post primary, that the mixture can be considered for a capital grant and in that connection, use of whatever public building is available could be part of that deal. That is all I can offer.

On the Chief State Solicitor's office issue, my Department informs me that there are two reasons why a lot of sports grants which are agreed do not get paid for a long time. One is planning applications and the other is legal issues tied up at the Chief State Solicitor's office. I urge those applying for funds to make sure that under the planning and legal headings, they have cleared those obstacles before they progress their application.