Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

This Government has shown a tremendous commitment to sport. The role of the Government is to support voluntary and community efforts because there are areas which do not need public support. I do not want to be partisan but there are politicians who only open their mouths on this subject to criticise Government funding for one or other branch of sport or a proposed facility, appealing mainly to the armchair critics whose attitude to exercise is to lie down when they feel it coming on until it goes away.

The sports capital programme is of benefit throughout the State and since I became a public representative I have enjoyed meeting sports clubs that are making applications. Any sporting organisation that has a well thought out project and can raise the necessary funding on its side stands a good chance of being successful. I recently had the pleasure of opening some beautifully refurbished tennis courts in Tipperary which are often used by local schools and the community. Just across the way from them is a site where decentralised offices will be located so the tennis club may have many more members in the near future.