Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on his appointment. I also welcome this debate which is relevant to the health portfolio. A great deal has been said already today about the drugs strategy. People often inquire about attractions for young people in the sporting sphere and experts always say that if there are enough sport opportunities around, people will not become involved in drugs and other antisocial activities. I am glad the Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, talked about some of the great successes in recent times. He mentioned Ireland's win in the international rules series against Australia and the great wins of the Connacht, Leinster and Munster rugby teams. We are becoming somewhat international, also, in sport. What used to be called the Railway Cup or interprovincial championship final was played in Paris this year and last year the hurling final was played in Rome. That is a welcome development. It is certainly good for the players that they should offered such an incentive for winning those series.

The point that was made about young people, at the start, is important, in particular Senator O'Toole's argument for a PE hall in every school. I strongly support that, but I am always disappointed when I approach the Department of Education and Science on the subject of physical education or a PE hall. One will be told about the large number of schools that need classrooms, the waiting lists for resource teachers, special needs assistants, etc. It would be useful to again put the emphasis on the need for PE halls in our schools, which obviously could be used for the community as well. It is most important, particularly in rural areas, to have that facility available for everybody.

It is important that people have access to swimming pools and do not have to travel long distances to avail of such facilities. In County Galway we are particularly lucky, both in Galway city and in Ballinasloe where a leisure centre has been completed. The construction of a pool is under way in Tuam and there is sanction for a swimming pool in Loughrea. That is an important development in the second largest county in Ireland. There is also the issue of sporting grants, as mentioned by other Senators. I have a list of 34 projects sanctioned in County Galway this year for sports grants, ranging from €8,000 to €280,000. Every year hundreds of applications are rejected for one reason or another. Some get high marks but do not get above the magic figure. I often wonder why those projects are not among the first to be looked at when the next set of applications is made. To my mind they are among the most deserving. I am disappointed every year to see the same projects being rejected, despite people having learned in the process. Such projects should be examined and perhaps their promoters should not have to reapply as the same application will be submitted, particularly if there are two in one year.

I have looked at the marking of these applications and go along with the system as laid down. Reference is made to the parent bodies of particular sports, whether it is the IRFU, the GAA or the FAI. They appear to have a major say in whether a particular project will be successful or not. Take, for example, the town of Tuam, if I may be parochial. Tuam stadium is regarded as the home of football as far as we are concerned in north County Galway. Some years ago, when I was a Member of the Dáil, I brought the local committee to meet the then Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy McDaid, who provided £100,000 for the stadium. Obviously, more funding is needed for that particular stadium. In the most recent application, we are told that the GAA has decided there will be premier stadiums in each county or province. Pearse Stadium in Galway is number one and basically no other project will get funding until that has been completed. I do not believe it is fair or proper that such waiting time is allowed by way of assessment. The same is true as regards the IRFU and the FAI, but there are, naturally, more GAA stadiums around the country than soccer or rugby pitches.

A number of sports were mentioned by the Minister of State as being suitable for development for older people throughout the country. Golf is not the only such sport. I notice golf clubs are not getting much support in recent years because they are being told, in effect, that they should look after themselves. That might not always be valid where the elderly are concerned. However, the Minister of State has also referred to other sports.

It is a source of disappointment that we did not proceed with a national stadium either at Abbotstown or another location. A national centre would have provided a site at which minority sports could be accommodated. Senator Morrissey said there might not be a metro service to Abbotstown, but a very small number of people arrive at Croke Park on the railway from Galway.