Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to introduce the Sports Ireland Bill 2014, the purpose of which is to establish Sports Ireland, a new body which will replace the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority. The merger of the council and the authority is one of the measures in the Government's programme for the rationalisation of State agencies. Sport Ireland will take on the functions of the council and the authority. It will continue the work being done by the council in promoting, developing and co-ordinating sport in Ireland and by the authority in developing the National Sports Campus at Abbotstown. Both organisations are delivering important outcomes for sport and I am confident that this will continue to the position under the new structure.

As Minister of State with responsibility for sport, I am very aware of how important sport is in the lives of Irish people, both socially and from a health point of view. I strongly believe it has great potential to contribute to a much healthier society. We in government are fully aware that we must continue to promote sport and physical activity and support our sports organisations. We must also try to provide the best sports facilities we can, not just for our elite sportsmen and women but also for people of all ages and abilities. I am pleased to say we have been able to do a lot for sport in recent years. We have maintained Government funding for it as much as possible to ensure its continued development. The total amount available for spending this year is over €114 million. This is a very significant investment and a strong indication of our commitment to sport. A sum of €28.5 million is available for the sports capital programme and over €22 million for the development of a national indoor arena at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown.

I am sure Senators will join me in acknowledging the value and role of the sports capital programme. Senators will have first-hand experience of how it has transformed the sporting landscape of Ireland, with improvements in the quality and quantity of facilities in virtually every village, town and city. The facilities range from the smallest clubs to national centres of sporting excellence. One of the key features of the programme is that it helps to take some of the pressure off sports organisations by providing much needed finance to assist in the completion of projects. We were delighted to make allocations of €31 million in the 2012 round of the programme, the first round of the programme since 2008. We were also delighted to be able to make changes to the programme in 2012 to make it accessible to more clubs and organisations than ever before. The record number of 2,170 applications in 2012 showed that that round of the programme was very much needed.

With such high demand, it was never going to be possible to fund all applications. I was very pleased, therefore, that we were able to press ahead with a new round of the sports capital programme in 2014. This was great news for sports clubs across the country and a total of €40.5 million was allocated under the programme. In total, 2,036 applications, the second highest number ever, were received, showing the continuing demand and need for investment in sports facilities. A total of 821 of the successful allocations were to local sports clubs and organisations, with the remaining 59 to regional or national projects. I was also pleased to be able to launch another round of the programme earlier this year, as further proof of the Government’s commitment to sport. The closing date for applications for the 2015 round is next Friday, 24 April. It can be expected that allocations will be announced later this year.

The Irish Sports Council is funded by my Department. This year we are allocating over €44 million to it. The focus of this funding is on increasing participation in sport and physical activity, one of the key objectives of my Department, as is supporting our elite athletes in what is a very important year in terms of preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. In this context, I acknowledge the huge efforts of the council, the local sports partnerships and the national governing bodies in encouraging greater participation in sport. This important work is delivering results. The Irish Sports Monitor report for 2013 showed that the level of adult participation in sport had increased from 45% in 2011 to 47% in 2013. This increase is very encouraging and we will continue to work to increase this figure further.

I was pleased to announce last week the Irish Sports Council’s youth field sport investment plans for 2015. Over €7.4 million is being invested in the FAI, the GAA and the IRFU to support participation programmes aimed at encouraging and creating more opportunities for young people to participate in field sports. This investment supports my Department’s and the Irish Sports Council’s strategic aim of increasing participation in sport throughout Ireland. It will also contribute significantly to communities and the health and well-being of the nation.

Since it was established in 1999, the Irish Sports Council has played a very important part in the development of Irish sport at all levels. We are lucky to have a host of very talented sportsmen and sportswomen in Ireland. The structures put in place during the years to support our elite athletes have helped them to reach the top level across a wide range of sports. Last year Irish athletes won 55 medals in international competitions at junior and elite level. This is a huge increase from the 16 medals won in 2008. This is a remarkable achievement in that period and shows the excellent work being done for high performance sport in Ireland.Although it was established more recently, the National Sports Campus Development Authority has made a major contribution to Irish sport through the development of world-class training facilities at the National Sports Campus which has seen very significant progress in the past few years. We now have facilities in place where our elite athletes can prepare for international competitions. New facilities opened in the past couple of years include the world-class National Horse Sport Arena, the National Modern Pentathlon Centre, the National Diving Training Centre and a multi-sport synthetic pitch facility. On-site accommodation has also been developed to allow athletes to live and train on campus.

The Irish Institute of Sport is based on the campus at Abbotstown. Last year it provided over 22,000 hours of support services for sports bodies, coaches and athletes. Some 154 athletes in 20 sports attended clinics at the institute. Some of our finest athletes have benefited from the support and services provided by the institute. They include Fionnuala Britton, Annalise Murphy, the Irish high performance boxing squad, the Irish equestrian team, the Irish paralympic team and many other athletes. Athletes have access to the range of excellent campus facilities available. We now see Irish elite athletes who are happy to base themselves at home, as they are supported by a world-class and distinctly Irish system at the National Sports Campus. This is a major departure from the days when athletes chose to leave our shores if they felt they wanted to have a real chance of succeeding at the top level internationally. This year will see further significant developments at the campus. Work commenced in February on the development of a national indoor arena which is scheduled to be completed in November 2016. When completed, it will provide a world-class indoor training facility for a wide range of sports, including, badminton, volleyball, table tennis, basketball, fencing and other sports. It will be a great addition to our national sports facilities.

Work is also under way on a high performance training centre at the Institute of Sport. It will be ready later this year and assist athletes in their preparations for Rio 2016. The FAI and the GAA are also finalising the development of pitches for their sports at the campus. I am confident that more world-class facilities will be developed at the campus in the coming years.

It is important for me to express my thanks to the Irish Sports Council, the National Sports Campus Development Authority and the national governing bodies of sport for the efforts they are making every day for the good of Irish sport. I must also mention the volunteers who are a vital part of every club and sports organisation around the country and doing wonderful work for sport in their communities.

I turn to the main provisions of the Bill. It includes the standard provisions necessary to establish Sport Ireland and dissolve the council and the authority. It also combines the relevant provisions of the Irish Sports Council Act 1999 and the National Sports Campus Development Authority Act 2006. Part 1, covering sections 1 to 5, inclusive, includes standard provisions.

Part 2, covering sections 6 to 29, inclusive, provides for such matters as the establishment and functions of Sport Ireland. Its functions are set out in section 8 and broadly in line with those currently performed by the council and the authority. I will mention some of the main features.

Sport Ireland will have responsibility for developing strategies to increase participation in sport at national and local level. It will also have responsibility for supporting our elite athletes in achieving excellence in sport. This reflects the work of the Irish Institute of Sport. A new function is included in the section to reflect the role of Coaching Ireland in developing coaches and tutors at all levels of sport.

Sport Ireland will continue the development of the National Sports Campus. It will manage, operate and maintain the campus, with any other facility that may be approved by the Minister.

Overall responsibility for the research function which was the responsibility of the Irish Sports Council will revert to my Department. The programme for Government states policy making will revert to Departments, while agencies will be accountable for implementing policy. As research is a key tool in policy making, responsibility for the function is being brought back into my Department. While the Minister will set direction, Sport Ireland will conduct the research. I intend to introduce a process in which my Department and Sport Ireland will work together to set out plans for what research will be conducted each year. Sport Ireland will also have responsibility for anti-doping measures, an issue to which I will come back.

The provision of grants and other assistance for national governing bodies of sport and athletes will come within the remit of Sport Ireland. This will be similar to the role the Irish Sports Council has in allocating funding. Responsibility for the sports capital programme will remain with my Department.

Many of the other sections in this Part of the Bill contain standard provisions. They cover such matters as the preparation of a strategy statement, an annual report, accounts and a service agreement.

Sections 19 to 21, inclusive, relate to Sport Ireland’s responsibility for the development of the National Sports Campus. Section 20 allows it to establish subsidiaries and enter into joint ventures and partnerships. It also provides that the subsidiary company established by the authority to operate the National Aquatic Centre and other facilities will continue as a subsidiary of Sport Ireland.

Section 22 provides that the first chief executive will be appointed by the Minister. The board of Sport Ireland will appoint subsequent CEOs. The CEO will have responsibility for carrying on, managing and controlling the administration and business of Sport Ireland.

Section 23 provides that the CEO will be accountable to Oireachtas committees, including the Committee of Public Accounts. I intend to appoint the first CEO for an interim period of one year to facilitate the transition to the new organisation. After the one year transition period, the board of Sport Ireland will be responsible for appointing the next CEO.

Section 29 provides that Sport Ireland will continue the development of the National Sports Campus in accordance with the plan prepared by the authority.

Part 3, covering sections 30 to 39, inclusive, deals with the dissolution of the council and the authority. It contains standard provisions for dissolving the two bodies and such matters as transferring land, property, rights and liabilities of the council and the authority to Sport Ireland.

Section 38 provides that employees of the council and the authority will become employees of Sport Ireland on the day of its establishment. Section 39 provides that employees who were members of an existing superannuation scheme before the transfer will continue to be members of the scheme with the same terms and conditions.

Part 4, covering sections 40 to 45, inclusive, deals with anti-doping measures. There was a general provision in the Irish Sports Council Act 1999 but technology has since moved on and anti-doping measures worldwide are now much more sophisticated. I commend the council as its work in this area is regarded highly internationally. With the new anti-doping provisions in the Bill, I intend to give a stronger statutory basis to the work already being undertaken.

Section 41 designates Sport Ireland as the national anti-doping organisation for the State. Section 42 gives it responsibility for taking appropriate measures to deliver an effective response to doping in sport, including testing and education. It also gives it responsibility for making and amending the Irish anti-doping rules. However, as set out in section 45, the existing Irish anti-doping rules made by the Irish Sports Council will continue to operate. They will be deemed to be the rules made by Sport Ireland. The anti-doping rules include rules and arrangements for such matters as the testing of athletes, banned substances, sanctions and so on. Section 42 also provides for the sharing of information with the Health Products Regulatory Authority, An Garda Síochána, customs authorities and other anti-doping organisations for the purpose of combating doping. Section 43 provides that Sport Ireland will perform its functions in accordance with the Data Protection Acts. Section 44 means that a person who fails to comply with the rules will not be eligible for funding or to represent the State in sport.

These are important measures which will allow Sport Ireland to ensure fair play in sport. The anti-doping programme is critical to help to ensure Irish athletes can compete clean on the world stage.

Schedule 1 to the Bill deals with matters relating to the board. They includes matters such as the appointment of board members, the establishment of committees and the procedure for meetings. It also addresses the disclosure of interests by members and the disclosure of confidential information. Paragraph 6 requires Sport Ireland to establish committees to advise on its functions relating to anti-doping, the National Sports Campus, coaching and high performance sport.

Schedule 2 lists the provisions that will apply in the event that there is a compulsory acquisition of land.

The Government has demonstrated its commitment to invest in sport and sports clubs.This is an exciting time for Irish sport and I am hopeful that Ireland will be hosting some significant events in the coming years. UEFA has already announced that Dublin will be a host city for the European football championships in 2020. I am also optimistic that the IRFU’s bid to host the women’s rugby world cup in 2017 and the men’s rugby world cup in 2023 will be successful. Major events like these are great for our country and can encourage more young people to get involved in sport. They are also great for us from a tourism point of view.

The Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority are doing great work in developing sport in Ireland. Under this Bill, the two bodies will merge and the baton will pass to Sport Ireland. I know that Sport Ireland will continue in the tradition of serving all our athletes and all our citizens well.

I commend the Bill to the House.