Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and acknowledge the attendance of the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, and the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I remember my first attendance during Private Members' time in this House, which began with Senator O'Toole eloquently highlighting how much he deplored any Government motion that begins by congratulating the Government, as it was probably not worthy of much support from the Opposition. I have difficulty with the wording of this motion and we will support the Fine Gael amendment.

Ireland has made significant inroads in this area in recent years, largely due to the ways in which various Governments have seriously addressed the issue of sport. Exchequer funding for sport has experienced a growth and our economy has been healthy recently, allowing the State to seriously support the many worthwhile projects in the various sporting industries. As a Corkman, I am particularly proud of Ms Sonia O'Sullivan and Mr. Roy Keane, who have brought great honour and glory to their clubs, home towns, counties and country, particularly in the case of the latter's ongoing success. This debate is opportune as Ireland faces a very important international soccer match and I wish the team the very best.

We could examine and debate a number of areas, such as the worrying levels of obesity, not just in young people but many others. Generally, there is a laid back attitude regarding people's diets and there is not enough emphasis on exercise or healthier eating. We are all aware of the need for healthier eating but it is very easy to slip back into fast food ways. If dispensing machines in schools will give young people the opportunity to have fizzy drinks instead of milk and natural drinks or the option to have crisps and chocolates, which are foods with high fat contents, the Government is not examining the issue constructively.

We are not doing enough as responsible adults and as a society, although I have recently noticed a number of people who have grown more active in terms of healthier eating, walking and engaging in exercise more. It is a product of our society that everyone rushes to work, rushes home and drives cars. It is a more frantic age. People do not allow themselves the time to engage in healthier lifestyles such as walking, exercise and other activities that are important. Doctors are blue in the face from warning people but there is a certain amount of responsibility on individuals to ensure their lifestyles reflect this growing issue, no pun intended.

Senator Henry made an important point about one-off rural housing and footpaths to towns. Many thousands of young people have been subjected to exorbitant development charges since the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, increased them in his previous role by as much as 500% or 600% in some cases; the development charge for a one-off rural house of approximately 2,000 sq ft after psychological warfare with local authorities, much expenditure on planning agents and trips to one's local politician to deal with the issue typically costs upwards of €3,000. I would be disgusted to think this development money would not go some way towards providing infrastructure such as footpaths, public lighting and playgrounds. Unfortunately, I have not yet seen the benefit of these development charges. If facilities are provided which encourage people to walk, this would be beneficial.

I will briefly discuss the GAA. I never played Gaelic football or hurling as I am one of those people who was not lucky enough to possess the knack of playing many sports. The GAA is one of the finest organisations in this country and one of the few organisations — probably the only organisation — that boasts a superb organisational structure in every parish in the country. It possesses clubhouses, pavilions, pitches, changing rooms and handball alleys. It is a great tribute and credit to the many people who worked down through the years and got out at community and voluntary level. These people marked pitches, washed jerseys, provided facilities, trained teams, organised buses and made sacrifices even though they were criticised locally when their team did not perform. This is the backbone of the GAA and I would not begrudge it one ounce of the funding it has received from the State in recent years. I say this in particular because there is a project in the offing in my home town of Dunmanway, the home of Sam Maguire, after whom the most coveted prize in Gaelic football, the Sam Maguire cup, is named. I hoped the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, would be present to hear about a project to renovate Sam Maguire's home. I hope he will not be found wanting regarding the funding that will inevitably be sought in order to restore the house and provide a monument to recognise the man's achievements.

It is a shame that we have lost many fine athletes down through the years because of a lack of facilities. There were other equally talented athletes in parts of County Cork in the early 1980s when Sonia O'Sullivan was winning her events. Unfortunately, no facilities were available at primary and second level. We were faced with issues like unemployment and emigration so matters like this were low priorities on various checklists. It was scandalous to allow that talent to escape the arena in which it could have shone but we are now in an era where we can ensure that this no longer happens. We must begin this type of investment at national school level and ensure we exploit in a good sense demand, need and potential where it exists. It is important for the Government to provide funding in these areas.

I must again be parochial on two points. A namesake of mine, John McCarthy, who is also from Dunmanway, won a silver medal in the discus competition at the Paralympics. I have yet to witness at any other level the amount of pride any town can have when its most famed son or daughter returns home with that type of prize. It is a wonderful tribute to the person involved and to sport in general to see that type of glory, not because of the pursuit of glory for glory's sake but because people can prove their ability rather than disability. It was a particularly proud moment for all who were present to witness it.

The Minister touched on the issue of funding for swimming pools. Funding for the swimming pool in Dunmanway was announced by the former Minister, Deputy Jim McDaid, in November 1999. This project has still not advanced beyond tender stage, which is disgraceful. It is not the Department's fault; it is a matter of funding at local level. This pool is built to the standard of the late 1970s and cannot compete with private facilities in the west Cork area. I have written to the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, regarding a proposal from a number of people in the locality. Aquatic sports now feature strongly in the school curriculum and the complex to which I have referred is on the same site as the campus of Maria Immaculata secondary school, a fine school and a testament to public-private partnership operating well. The inability of students to have this pool at their disposal is akin to having an equestrian centre beside a school which fails to produce champion jockeys. Every school in the locality and district would benefit from an upgraded pool. I have asked the Minister to consider a joint partnership between her own Department and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and Cork County Council with a view to providing financial assistance to get the project moving. I am glad to be able to put this on the record and I hope that the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, will convey this to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism.