John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 5: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the implications of budget 2010 on the capital and current spending programmes in sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47990/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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We all appreciate the important role that sport plays in our society in promoting healthy lifestyles, creating a sense of identity and belonging and in channelling energy in rewarding activity and bringing people together. I assure the Deputy the Government is committed to sport and believes in the contribution it can make to our society, for individuals and for communities. Thus the importance of the sport sector to the country is reflected in the commitments contained in the renewed programme for Government and the funding secured for the sector under budget 2010. I am committed to increasing and developing participation and interest in sport, improving standards of performance and to developing sports facilities, thereby contributing to healthier lifestyles and an improved overall quality of life.

A total of €48 million has been provided for the sports capital programme in 2010. This provision for sports capital projects will ensure that commitments arising in 2010 from previous allocations under the sports capital programme will continue to be met and that a range of modern facilities will be brought in to use in 2010. Since 1998, in excess of €725 million has been allocated to 7,400 sports projects all over the country. A sum of €49.8 million has been provided to the Irish Sports Council for 2010. This is a significant investment by Government to enable this important agency to maintain existing programmes and build on recent significant progress in all areas, including local sports partnerships, Buntús, women in sport, older people and sport, youth field sports and the high performance programme. The Lansdowne Road stadium, a key sports infrastructure project, remains on schedule to be completed on time and within budget in 2010. The allocation by the Department of €4.5 million in 2010 represents the retention amount of the Government's funding for the project of €191 million. With regard to the local authority swimming pools programme, the allocation of €7.5 million is being provided to meet commitments arising in 2010 under the current round of the programme.

Ireland is the third largest breeder of thoroughbreds in the world and Irish horses and jockeys consistently succeed at the highest level. An estimated 27,000 jobs are supported by both the horse and greyhound industry in Ireland and significant inward investment is attracted to the country. Taking account of the need to continue to support both industries, €59.3 million is being allocated by Government to the horse and greyhound racing fund in 2010.

I would like to offer my congratulations to John Ox and Sea the Stars. I wish Michael Kinnane, who had a fantastic year at 50 years of age, every success in his retirement. It is being said that Sea the Stars was the best horse of the past 300 years. I am delighted that horse is going to stand stud in this country. Additional information not given on the floor of the House

In view of the current economic constraints, the first phase of the national sports campus project will not be proceeding at this time. However, a sum of €3 million is being provided for the refurbishment of the former Marine Institute building at Abbotstown, which will be used as a headquarters for national governing bodies of sport. The remainder of the allocation will be used to provide for capital maintenance at the National Aquatic Centre.

I am satisfied that the budgets provided for the various sports programmes in a very difficult budgetary environment will enable us to continue with the pursuit of our strategic objectives in the sport area.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I wish to join in the congratulations of the Minister to John Ox and Michael Kinnane. It must be said that the McCarthy report has made a hero of the Minister in the sense that it suggested cuts of 34%. I do not want to be mealy-mouthed but I would like to give the Minister credit for not going along that line and for keeping the cut to 4%. However, that is where my praise finishes.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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It is Christmas. Keep it going.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It may be. The Minister has just got his present. In his response the Minister stated that more sports means a healthier and happier nation and more jobs. However, we should not forget that the €48 million allocated to the sports capital programme is a reduction of 14% on the 2009 allocation. We are almost at the end of 2009. Has the €56 million that was allocated for 2009 been spent or will it all be spent? Rather than saying he would like to open up applications, will the Minister assure the House that he is committed, if still in Government, to opening up sports capital grants again in 2011?

On the swimming pool programme, -----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Has the Deputy a final brief question?

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I have a few questions.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I will come back to the Deputy.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy O'Mahony for his kind comments. We had difficult choices to make when considering the economic situation, but we managed quite well. I am pleased by that. We did not manage badly for the right reasons.

There is an overhang still, of approximately €120 million, on the sports capital programme. We estimate that what we will need in 2010 is €48 million to complete the required part of the programme. The €56 million allocation for this year was all spent by October, so there was no issue in that regard. I would like to have another sports capital programme. We are doing an assessment of what we have done over the past ten years. A significant sum of €750 million has been put into capacity around the country. There is some unevenness in the regions with regard to what has been provided and I am trying to assess that so as to establish what is required in any new programme. Therefore, if there is a new programme it will not, as with any new programme, be on the same basis. However, it should be a sports capital programme and I am committed to that. It may need to be more specifically targeted than in the past.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The problem is the sums of €56 million and €48 million represent the same as the €80 million pledged in 2006 and 2007. The Minister took the credit for that amount at that time. I am glad the Minister has given some assurance for 2011, but what is to happen with the swimming pool programme? The Minister mentioned €7.5 million. That figure is 40% down on the amount provided in 2009. Therefore, the overall 4% cut mentioned earlier covers up a lot of figures.

The grants to support sport in disadvantaged areas have suffered a cut of 70% in the current spending budget. Under the sports partnerships, there are 20 sports inclusion disability officers. These were paid from the dormant accounts with €60,000 provided for the work of each of them. I know at first hand of the serious work done by these officers and the opportunity this programme has provided to the disabled. Disabled people were affected by the budget last week. Can the Minister guarantee this funding will be protected and expanded in the coming year?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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That is an important question and the Deputy is correct. Some €2.5 million came from the dormant accounts fund, from the Department of my colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. I have spoken to the Sports Council about this issue and it will maintain the funding for the disability officers. We believe in them. It is difficult and challenging for us to maintain the programme, but we see the disability officers as an intricate part of the programme who make an important contribution in particular areas of sport. The issue is being examined currently and I am very cognisant of it.

The reason for the cut in funding for the swimming pool programme is that we have built 45 swimming pools. Therefore, the capital programme has been reducing. The amount provided for this year is all we need this year. I can only spend a €7.5 million this year because the programme is at the end of its life and there is no requirement for more money in 2010.