Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for his comments. Senators know that I always try to come into this House for my own debates. I have come in on many occasions to deal with matters on the Adjournment concerning my Department, because I have great respect for Seanad Éireann.

Given the benefits associated with sporting activities, the Government regards expenditure on sport as important for the social and economic development of the country. These benefits arise in a wide range of areas including health and well being, social and cultural development, education, personal development, tourism and the economy. The sports capital programme, which is part funded from the proceeds of the national lottery, is the primary means of granting Government support for the provision of sports facilities at national, regional and local level. It was a misunderstanding that the proceeds of the lottery go directly to my Department. It goes to the Exchequer, and like any other Minister, I bid for the various programmes funded through my Department.

Under the sports capital programme, my Department provides funding to voluntary sporting and community organisations for the provision of sports and recreational facilities. More than 7,400 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocation in that time to more than €725 million. In 2008, more than €50 million was allocated towards 685 separate sports facility and equipment projects. The programme has significantly improved the quality and quantity of sporting facilities in virtually every village, town and city in the country. The facilities funded range from the smallest clubs to national sports centres. The aims and objectives of the programme are to foster an integrated and planned approach to the development of sports and physical recreation facilities throughout the country; to assist voluntary and community organisations to develop high quality, safe, well-designed and sustainable facilities in appropriate locations to help maximise participation in sport and physical recreation; to prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of sports facilities; and to encourage the multi-purpose use of local, regional and national sports facilities by clubs, community organisations and national governing bodies of sport.

The programme has supported the provision or improvement of landmark national and regional stadia such as Thomond Park, home to European rugby champions, Munster, and Semple Stadium, the home of hurling for many. These facilities provide a platform for our most talented athletes to perform, which in turn inspires new generations of young people to aspire to match the sporting prowess of their heroes. They are also an important support to our tourism industry as they draw visitors from around Britain, Europe and further afield, who come to Ireland to follow their teams in action.

Each Member of the Oireachtas will be aware of the many benefits that derive from the programme in his or her locality. They have no doubt witnessed the value of the programme in assisting local clubs in meeting the sporting needs of their areas. In recent years, the programme has targeted clubs in areas of social disadvantage. By doing this, the Government is supporting the provision of facilities where there may be little prospect of such facilities being provided by the communities acting alone. These facilities provide an opportunity for participation in sport which leads to healthier lifestyles and a reduced likelihood of younger people drifting into anti-social behaviour.

It is prudent, however, to pause and take stock on occasion, regardless of the merits of a programme. It is essential to review areas of expenditure to determine whether schemes represent the optimal use of the resources available. Accordingly, no decision has yet been made about the timing of further rounds of the programme. My Department is currently finalising a five-year strategic plan to inform the future development of necessary sporting facilities throughout the country. The aim of the strategy is to provide high-level policy direction for future investment and grant assistance at national, regional and local level. It is intended to identify the requirement for sports facilities so that participation at reasonable cost is feasible for those who wish to engage in sport, at either amateur or elite level. The strategy is also examining the wider economic, health and social case for continued investment in sports facilities. It aims to prioritise areas for future investment and to ensure continued impact in the relevant areas.

In the interim, it is business as usual for those that have been allocated grants under previous rounds of the programme, and there is obviously no question of rowing back on allocations already made. The current position remains that €56 million has been provided in my Department's vote in the 2009 Estimates to cover payments to be made from the C1 subhead, out of which grants are paid for the provision of sports and recreation facilities.

When answering questions in the Dáil last week, I felt I did not reveal anything new. This position has been clear since the Estimates were published late last year. I made my position clear at that time. While we are in difficult times, we must recognise that more than 1,000 projects will be undertaken this year across the country. The activity level under the sports capital programme this year will be as high as it always has been. As I have said, no decision has been taken on when the programme will renew itself. I am taking this opportunity to make sure that sporting facilities are fairly balanced in each region of the country. I want to ensure there is a good base of facilities across each region. That will inform our more strategic approach over the next five years, when we are deciding how to use the sports capital programme to continue to benefit all parts of the country. As more than 7,500 projects have been already funded under the programme, it is fair to say it has been a huge success. We have spent significant resources. We need to consider what precisely we should be doing for the next five years.