Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I am sure the Leader will agree that while this is an innovative system we are operating, it is a little unfair that spokespersons having already got sufficient time to make a contribution in which I suggest they had the opportunity to ask questions of the Minister of State should now have a second bite at the cherry, thus preventing the remainder of us an opportunity to ask questions. I ask that the Leader take a look at that.

I welcome the Minister of State. It is unfortunate that the Government decided to downgrade the Department of Tourism to that of junior ministerial status. However, the choice of Minister of State for tourism in that new configuration could not have been better. If ever there was someone who would fight at the Cabinet table or with his line Ministers for what is needed it is the Minister of State, Deputy Ring who has shown himself to be a gutsy fighter representing the people of Mayo. In that context, can the Minister of State indicate how successful he has been thus far in increasing the swimming pool grant from €6.6 million?

The Minister of State will be aware of one specific application in Drumshanbo in County Leitrim, which he recently had the pleasure to visit. I was delighted to meet him on that occasion with colleagues form all parties and none. The Acres Lake amenity scheme is an innovative scheme pioneered in the early 1970s. It sits on the shores of Acres Lake, which is a throughput for the Lough Allen canal which links into the Shannon. My late father, who was instrumental in headlining this, to the day he died paid tribute to the Taoiseach's late father Henry Kenny, the then Minister responsible for the Office of Public Works. He was the first Minister to acknowledge the importance of the waterways in Ireland and at that time gave a grant to Leitrim County Council which ultimately led to the reopening of the canal for navigation purposes.

This is not just about small town Ireland. The Lough Allen canal has proven to be a great boom in terms of increasing waterway access, tourism numbers and its contribution to the local economy. The application by Leitrim County Council is more than just another application coming across the Minister of State's desk. I would be grateful for whatever assistance he can provide in that regard.

Is there any possibility of a review of the original Act which set up the national lottery? As most people know it was originally set up to provide funding for agreed categories of which sports was one and health and education others. Unfortunately successive Governments, most of them Fianna Fáil Governments, I admit, changed the rules and the game to the point where much of the money goes directly to the Exchequer. Consequently, we are now in a difficult situation here. This is not about Exchequer funding. It is about money that people take out of their pockets and pay for lottery tickets. The money is ring-fenced.