Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the area in which he expects to make cuts in the budget for his Department for 2009 in response to the need to rein in Exchequer spending; the cuts to be introduced in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2479/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As Deputies will be aware there has been a serious deterioration in the economic and budgetary situation since the budget for 2009 was presented by my colleague, the Minister for Finance. The much more challenging economic situation has significant implications for the evolution of the public finances. The Government is working on a five-year plan to restore balance with an overriding target of eliminating the current budget deficit by 2013. This will mean reductions in the budgets of Departments and I am prepared to make my contribution as part of the effort to the success of this plan.

I am responsible for the arts, sport and tourism Vote, which has an allocation of €563 million in 2009. This comprises Vote 35, Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, and Vote 33, National Gallery of Ireland.

Deputies will be aware that the Government has agreed that 2009 expenditure savings of up to €2 billion should be identified and incorporated into the Revised Estimates. This matter is the subject of Cabinet discussions at present. I will inform the House of the outcome of these deliberations, as they apply to my Department's 2009 allocation, in due course.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. Unfortunately, the allocation for arts, sport and tourism was reduced by 22% in the last budget and were any further cuts to be made, I would be concerned as to whether any budget would remain. The cut of 22% means the Department already has taken a major hit and I believe its allocation has fallen by €151 million. In the light of such an enormous deficit, what impact would it have were such cuts to proceed apace? The local authorities swimming pool programme already has been lost and nothing has happened since 2000. In spite of the Minister's remarks to Deputy Mitchell on tourism, clearly problems exist there. It is a huge industry that must be encouraged and developed and consequently, serious concerns arise in respect of further cuts to the budget.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Again, the Deputy has presented a figure that is correct but has so done in a distorted manner. Everyone knows that the cost of the Lansdowne Road redevelopment was removed from the budget allocation for 2009, as it was not going to be a repetitive capital cost, and one should be realistic. Moreover, while the Deputy is correct to suggest there have been cuts in some other areas, they have been marginal. The only reduction in the tourism area is being made in respect of administrative costs and the Government and I have been roundly complimented by the tourism industry on maintaining fully the tourism budget. The Deputy is correct to state the tourism industry is one of Ireland's major economic industries. It employs more than 320,000 people and contributes up to €6 billion in revenue to the State at various levels. Therefore, I am acutely aware of the challenges that arise.

The funding increases in recent years to both the Irish Sports Council and the Arts Council have been phenomenal and both organisations accept that. If some retrenchment is taking place at present, so be it. However, we still are up at the record figures that were delivered to both organisations in 2006. While I do not deny that the environment is challenging, more can be achieved for less given the operation of deflation at present. As growth no longer is taking place, much more value can be achieved for the money that is being spent, particularly in respect of marketing budgets and across the spectrum.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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My concern is this Department will become the easy target for many of the cuts. While tourism in particular has been mentioned, clearly sport also has a huge input in respect of both job creation and provision and purely at a societal level. My concern is that there has been no movement in respect of initiatives such as the swimming pool programme. I know of areas in my constituency that are crying out for small amounts of support. For instance, although Lourdes Celtic, which is based in Sundrive Park, Dublin 12, has been screaming out for a changing room, no commitment has been given for that small project. My concern is that many other similar small projects will go by the board.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The swimming pool programme has been rolling out at a fast pace right up to the present week, in which a project in Kilkenny will be opened. A total of 55 swimming pools have been approved under the programme, most of which have been built. While I do not have the precise figures to hand, I understand that approximately 12 remain that either are in construction or are finalising planning. The programme is by no means stopped although the Deputy is correct to state that I have not opened another round at present. This is true as I do not have the resources at present to so do. Nevertheless, it is wrong to state that nothing is happening. This programme has been hugely successful and I will continue with that.

On the sports capital side, approximately €800 million has gone into small clubs nationwide in recent years, including sports such as rugby, soccer, Gaelic football, boxing and others, and rightly so. This programme has been highly successful and even last year, I maintained a €50 million package. A programme was announced and delivered on and successful applicants were duly informed. In the past ten years, this programme has had a major impact on local areas. Clearly, as Minister with responsibility for sport, I would like to do more and would like to have more money to spend. At present, however, that simply is not possible. Equally however, I would like to complete the programmes for which I have the resources in place, such as the swimming pool programme, over the next year or two.