Kieran Phelan (Fianna Fail)

I move:

"That Seanad Éireann:

—congratulates the Government for giving unprecedented political priority to sport and recreation combined with record investment;

—welcomes the substantial increase in the annual sports budget to €130 million in 2005 compared to just €17 million in 1997;

—acknowledges sport was first given a seat at the Cabinet table back in 1997 and notes by the end of 2005, Government spending on sport since 1997 will be over €740 million;

—notes too that the Sports Council budget in 2005 is €34.4 million, taking the total funding since its establishment in 1999 to almost €158 million;

—maintains that significantly increased funding under the Sports Capital Programme has ensured the provision of high quality sport facilities in many locations throughout Ireland;

—welcomes the fact that since 1998, over €385 million has been allocated to 4,899 sports capital projects;

—congratulates the Government for investing in the development of facilities which cater for national needs, for example the National Aquatic Centre at Abbotstown, the National Boxing Stadium; the National Rowing Centre at Inniscarra, County Cork, the National Hockey Stadium in UCD and the Tennis Ireland National Centre in Glasnevin;

—supports the policy of developing top class regional facilities serving all sports which are being developed through the provision of regional sports centres all over Ireland; and

—asks the Government to continue to place a special emphasis on sport and recreation as this will have significant benefits in fostering healthier lifestyles and stronger communities."

I welcome the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, to the House for this evening's debate. I am delighted to be able to speak here in support of this Fianna Fáil motion. We should congratulate the Government on giving unprecedented political priority to sport and recreation, combined with record investment.

We, in Ireland, are blessed to have a wonderful sporting tradition in every townland, parish and city. This comes in the form of a variety of different sports, not merely team but also individual sports. No matter where one goes throughout the length and breadth of Ireland sport plays a significant part in the lives of the old and young, whether as a participant, a supporter or a manager. In this regard am proud that the Government has played an important role in supporting our sporting organisations at national level. For example, as the motion explains, in 1997 the total annual sports budget was €17 million whereas this year's sports budget is €130 million.

Although the motion refers to sporting facilities that cater for national needs, we cannot talk about national sporting facilities without addressing the issues associated with local sport and local sporting organisations. Over the past number of years I have been delighted to see the amount of money that the Government has put into local sport and community organisations. This year alone, through the sports capital programme, my county of Laois has received €721,500 for projects such as GAA, rugby, boxing and athletics.

There was further good news announced in my county in June when the Minister approved the contract documents for replacement swimming pools in Portlaoise and Portarlington. This funding is under the local authority swimming pool programme where grants of up to €3.8 million are available to cover 80% of the cost of the projects.

As a member of a local GAA club, I know only too well the role the GAA and other local sporting organisations play in the life of rural Ireland. In many areas of the country there are few, if any, sporting and recreational facilities apart from those provided by the GAA. That is why I disagree with those who slam the Government for giving money to the GAA and, indeed, for the development of Croke Park.

Croke Park is beyond doubt one of the finest sporting stadiums in the world. I have attended it on many occasions. Unfortunately, this year I did not get to attend that many games when Laois went out of the championship early, but I will leave that matter aside. I have been struck by the quality, size and comfort of the stadium. Every member of the GAA can be proud of their stadium which is a monument to the men and women who run the GAA as a voluntary organisation, but it is worth remembering that substantial Government funding was given to the GAA to assist in this project.

The Government has also worked hard to improve sporting facilities across the country and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism has allocated significant amounts of funding under the national lottery funded sports capital programme. In this regard one of the main policies of the Government in the development of sport and recreational facilities is to increase participation, particularly in disadvantaged areas. The sports capital programme is the primary vehicle for supporting the development of such facilities for voluntary sporting organisations at local, regional and national levels. Grants are allocated towards projects such as multipurpose sports halls, athletics stadiums and GAA, soccer and rugby pitches.

As the motion outlines, since 1998 the sports capital programme has been the catalyst for the delivery of modern well equipped facilities in all counties and has provided grants to the value of €385 million to 4,900 projects throughout the country. Examples include the following projects listed in the motion — Strong penalties are imposed for this type of event, including up to three years' imprisonment on conviction and indictment. the National Aquatic Centre, the National Boxing Stadium, the National Rowing Centre, the National Hockey Stadium and the Tennis Ireland National Centre. However, I am aware of many more projects that have been funded by the Government in the past number of years such as the swimming pool in Limerick and sports centres in Dublin, Athlone, Letterkenny, Ennis, Galway, Ballina, Navan, Bray and Waterford.

I am confident that the Government is doing a wonderful job in the promotion of sport and the provision of sporting facilities where necessary. Much more can be done at local level to continue promoting sport and recreation. That is why I fully support the motion which calls on the Government to continue to place a special emphasis on sport and recreation as this has been proven to have significant benefits in fostering healthier lifestyles and stronger communities.

All the health experts warn us that we, as a society, are becoming less active and the danger from obesity and illness has increased. We need, therefore, to continue supporting each and every organisation that attempts to promote sport and the involvement of young and old in exercise. If we do that the health of our country will continue to be in good shape. That is why I commend the Minister for continuing to secure significant funding from the Department of Finance for redirection to sport and recreation facilities throughout the country.

Last January the Minister announced a package of €191 million towards the cost of the construction of the new stadium at Lansdowne Road. The Irish Rugby Football Union, the Football Association of Ireland and the Government have drawn up wonderful plans for the Lansdowne Road project and I look forward to seeing the stadium completed on time and on budget. Both the IRFU and the FAI need to be complimented on the manner in which they have come together to pool their resources in the interests of Irish sport. The Government will not be found wanting in our desire to see the opening of the stadium in December 2008.

A number of upcoming significant projects and events are worthy of mention. We all remember the Special Olympics here in 2003 and the way in which it helped promote our special athletes and encourage new people to get involved in sport. In the same way I see a great opportunity with the announcement that the 2012 summer Olympic Games will be held across the water in London. We, in Ireland, should benefit from the positive impact that will come from these games. By 2012, thanks to the Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, a range of modern well-managed facilities of the highest quality may be used by competitors of other countries for training. From our own point of view, it will offer Irish athletes an opportunity to perform at an Olympic Games in a familiar and supportive environment, without issues like travel, diet and temperatures with which to contend. I hope this will allow young people to see top athletes perform here and may help to create a new buzz in this country for all sports of the Olympic Games.

Next year will be significant, with the Ryder Cup coming to Ireland and no doubt the Minister will help in every way to make that a momentous success as well. I again offer him a special word of thanks.