Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will reopen the sports capital scheme in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8789/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated towards the provision of sports facilities at national, regional and local level. The programme, which is the primary vehicle for promoting the development of sports and recreational facilities, has transformed the sporting landscape of the State, with improved facilities in virtually every village, town and city. The facilities funded range from new equipment for the smallest clubs to regional multi-sport centres and national centres of sporting excellence.

More than 7,400 projects providing a range of essential sports facilities have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocation in that time to more than €725 million. In 2008, more than €50 million was allocated towards 685 separate sports facility and equipment projects. These grants continue to play a pivotal role in ensuring the provision of modern, high-quality facilities throughout the State that attract more people to participate in sporting activities.

My Department is currently finalising a five-year strategic plan to inform the future development of necessary sporting facilities throughout the State. The aim of the strategy is to provide high-level policy direction for future investment and grant assistance at national, regional and local level. The strategy will also identify the wider economic, health and social case for continued investment in sports facilities. It will aim to prioritise areas for future investment and to ensure continued impact on participation in the relevant areas, including those in lower socioeconomic groups. The national sports facilities strategy will address future sports facility funding and provision and will inform decisions on future rounds of the sports capital programme.

In the 2009 Estimates, €56 million was provided in my Department's Vote, part-funded from the proceeds of the national lottery, to cover payments to be made this year from the C1 subhead, out of which grants are paid for the provision of sports and recreation facilities. Any decision on future rounds of the programme will be considered in the context of the prevailing budgetary situation.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Like Deputy Mitchell, I am glad the Minister was not obliged to engage in any high-risk sports such as hang-gliding or parachuting yesterday. We are glad no serous injuries occurred as a consequence of the incident.

As I understand it, no new sports capital funding is provided for 2009. Is there any reason that national lottery funding cannot be allocated in order to facilitate new applications? It is my understanding that projects already in receipt of funding in 2008 will continue in 2009 but that no new sports capital funding is coming on board. Will the Minister explain why national lottery funding cannot be dedicated for this purpose?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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For the 685 projects approved last year, funding is continued into this year. There is a further overhang of projects in recent years that will also be completed. In total, some 1,000 projects are set for completion. Lottery funding is not, nor ever was, abrogated to my Department. Rather, it goes into the central Exchequer, along with all revenues to the State. That always has been the case. It is reasonable to conclude that the sports capital programme may have been partly funded by lottery money, which is allocated through the central Exchequer, over the years. However, there is no abrogated lottery funding that is ring-fenced to my Department for sports investment. I wish there were, but that has never been the case.

I will not deny that the prevailing budgetary situation poses a great problem for us all, not least in my own area of responsibility. Given the scale of the investment involved, I am seeking to establish, on a regional basis, where facilities are lacking. For example, some regions are strong in some areas and weak in others. The objective is to have a good balance across the regions. The way forward is to have a five-year strategic framework instead of funding almost anything that comes in provided it meets certain criteria. Now is the time for a slight pause. The current economic situation has implications for us, but I may as well take advantage of it by coming up with something positive.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Some €56 million or 57% was given to support the sports capital programme from the national lottery funding. Is there some reason this cannot be ring-fenced for new capital investment for 2009?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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No, because the commitments already given require every cent of the funding for 625 projects allocated and contracted. More projects have not yet started for various reasons. I cannot say how many will proceed but the sum of €56 million will be drawn down in the current year for projects to which resources have already been allocated.