Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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Question 3: To ask the Minister for Tourism; Culture and Sport his plans to publish the national sports facilities strategy document. [6348/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Deputy to the House and acknowledge his particular interest in sport. He has done an enormous amount of work to promote soccer in Wexford. It is great to see the election of sports enthusiasts to the House and I am sure the Deputy will participate in some of our activities in the coming years.

A draft national sports facilities strategy has been completed by my Department. The aim of the strategy is to provide high level policy direction for future investment, grant assistance at national, regional and local level and a co-ordinated approach across the various agencies and Departments involved in supporting the provision of sports and recreational facilities. The draft strategy identifies the wider economic, health and social argument for continued investment in sports facilities. It aims to prioritise areas for future investment and ensure continued impact in the relevant areas. It will provide an improved policy platform for any future rounds of the sports capital programme.

Since 1998 grants to the value of €730 million have been allocated under the sports capital programme to some 7,400 projects. In the current economic conditions it is crucial that we continue to recognise the importance of investment in sport for the social and economic development of the country. Given the wide benefits associated with participation in sports activities, continued targeted investment to maximise the benefits in the areas of health and well-being, social and cultural development, education, personal development, tourism and the economy is vital.

Following the completion of the transfer of functions order, the draft strategy will now fall to be considered by my colleague, Deputy Varadkar, in his role as Minister for Transport.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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I congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Minister on their appointments.

Since 2009 there has been a freeze on sports capital grants. I am sure the Minister is as aware as I am of the importance of sport to young people. Research indicates that every euro we spend on our children saves the State €7 by the time they become adults. However, the difficulty of measuring the social benefits of sports means people are reluctant to invest money in this area in the current economic climate. Is there any interest on the part of the coalition Government in commencing a new programme of investment in sports infrastructure? Aside from the social benefits for children, expenditure on infrastructure is a worthy investment during difficult economic times. When recession hit China, the first thing its Government did was to invest €450 billion in infrastructure. Is the Government equally keen to invest in developing sports infrastructure in the light of the economic and social benefits that would ensue?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I understand the strategy was prepared last summer, but, for whatever reason, it was not published. It will now be managed by the Minister for Transport and the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Ring, and I am sure they will publish it shortly once they have had an opportunity to study it and perhaps insert some of their own ideas.

An audit of sports facilities is being conducted through the local sports partnerships. I have been calling for such an audit for several years and was under the impression one had been completed several years ago. That did not happen, however. While it is important we carry out a thorough audit which can form the basis of a strategy, funding is even more important. The Minister and the Minister of State are anxious to implement a sports capital programme at the earliest opportunity. From the point of view of the nation's health, it makes perfect sense to put in place a budget for sports facilities.

I am sure Deputies will agree on the importance of providing sports facilities on or near school grounds where possible. I know of facilities located half a mile or one mile away from schools that could have been constructed on school grounds. In many cases, our weather conditions and the cost of transport makes it too difficult to bring young people to sports facilities for physical education classes with the result that most schools do not even possess indoor facilities adequate to meet the needs of the most simple of physical education programmes. I also support the development of facilities which would allow multiple sports to be pursued. Rugby, GAA and soccer clubs could share common facilities, even playing matches on different pitches. Where this has happened, it has saved a lot of money. It makes sense.

This is something that Deputy Wallace will be pursuing because of his commitment to sport. It is great that he will show his interest in the House in the future.

It is important that a new fund become available as soon as possible. For the information of the Deputy, this is a question I asked when I was in the Department in Killarney last week. A large amount of money — something like €77 million — is unspent at the moment and has been so for some time. If there are clubs that can go ahead with their developments, the money should be moved on to them. It should be used and not left for a long period.

There will be a new sports capital programme, although I cannot say when. That will be up to the new Minister. I will be encouraging it for the reasons expressed by the Deputy.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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Would the Minister be in favour of the money being distributed based on fairness rather than ministerial influence, as we have seen too much in the past? It should go to areas of need rather than where the influence is.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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That is an important question and it is why there is a need for a sports strategy. Previously, the money was either spent under the influence of the Minister or distributed to wealthy clubs that could provide matching funding. Deputy Ring is anxious that the level of matching funding required be lowered in order that clubs throughout the country can avail of this. The wealthier clubs got the money, as well as organisations in the area the Minister with responsibility for sport happened to represent. That was wrong, and that is why we need a national strategy and a proper audit. We must distribute the money fairly throughout the country in order that the whole country can benefit.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 4: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport his plans to restore the sports capital grants. [6334/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Under the sports capital programme, SCP, funding is allocated to sporting, voluntary and community organisations at local, regional and national level. A total of €33 million has been provided in the Department's Vote in the 2011 Estimates to meet payments in respect of projects that have been allocated funding under the SCP.

More than 1,000 payments were made last year to projects being developed throughout the country. These projects will allow clubs to drain pitches, erect floodlighting, buy non-personal sports equipment, build changing rooms and sports halls and generally increase opportunities for people to engage in sports at all levels. Since 1998, the Department has allocated almost €740 million in more than 7,400 separate allocations. This funding has transformed the standard of sports facilities throughout the country.

In allocating this funding, special targeting and prioritisation is given to projects in RAPID, CLÁR and local drugs task force areas. These projects are permitted to have a lower minimum level of self-funding — 20% for projects in CLÁR areas and 10% for projects in RAPID and local drugs task force areas compared with the normal 30% — and they may also receive extra marks during the assessment process.

In the most recent rounds of the SCP in 2008, successful projects in RAPID areas also qualified for additional top-up funding of up to 30% of their SCP allocations, payable by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, in addition to their sports capital allocations. Through these measures, the SCP has invested more than €150 million in projects which are either in or serving designated disadvantaged areas. In turn, top-up arrangements from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in RAPID and CLÁR areas have allowed further allocations of more than €22 million to be made.

Deputies will be aware that on Tuesday, 29 March, the Government made an order for the transfer of functions from the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport with effect from 1 April 2011. The matter of a new round of the SCP will fall for consideration to my colleagues, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and his Minister of State.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Minister will know, the SCP, which has been in place since 1998, has been critical in the development of sports clubs, grounds and facilities throughout the country. I started my life in sport a good deal later than the Minister, but at that time, which was not that long ago, our facilities amounted to leaky huts. There has been considerable development since 1998. I know the Minister will not be directly responsible for sport, but can he give a commitment on behalf of the Government that the SCP will be reopened and that moneys will be made available to sports and athletics clubs throughout the country? In these times, the programme could be reoriented to ensure allowances are made for capital materials. As the Minister knows, there is a strong voluntary ethic in clubs and if some type of funding was made available, many clubs could do considerable work from relatively small resources. I am asking for a commitment from the Minister that the Government will reopen the SCP.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his positive approach. I agree that a lot can be achieved with a small amount of money. There are many people who are willing to volunteer their services if given the opportunity. I will suggest that the next scheme be more flexible with regard to the input of local labour, which could be considered as the equivalent of matching funding. In this way, much more could be achieved. From speaking to the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, I am convinced there will be a scheme, but I cannot say when. I will suggest that it be established as soon as possible.

The clause specifying that projects should be completed within 18 months must be adhered to. Clubs cannot expect to hold on to their right to obtain money for a long period while other clubs are ready to receive funding. I am convinced there will be a programme. I cannot say when, but I know it will be sooner rather than later.

What the Deputy has suggested should be noted by the incoming Minister. I suggest that he make his proposal in the committee when it is convened. As the future Minister for public expenditure and reform, Deputy Howlin, said earlier, the Government wishes to avail of the co-operation of the House. Sport transcends all political parties, as I have discovered. Suggestions from the Opposition side about the SCP would be very welcome.