Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand that and that is why I said in the beginning that there might have been a mix-up because on the Oireachtas website this is scheduled as statements on transport and sport, which is totally out of the Minister's control. Nobody told him.

The Minister knows my feelings about the Limerick-Shannon metro link and how important it is to the development of the region. Senator O'Mahony referred to the regional airports budget announced recently. I know from the Minister's recent visit to Shannon that he realises the importance of Shannon Airport. I will keep putting this on the agenda. While Shannon has autonomy and is set up slightly differently from other airports, I welcome the fact that extra routes have been announced recently and acknowledge the work the board is doing there to try to bring extra business to the airport. Many companies are considering expansion and when they created extra jobs recently they announced that Shannon Airport is the airport for the region and having the airport and the port on their doorstep helped them make up their mind to locate in the mid-west. That is why I would really like to see something happening with Shannon. While I acknowledge that the Minister said he would talk to the different tourism groups to see if they can work with the board, I will keep this at the top of the agenda, if that is okay.

I acknowledge the recent announcements about the many successful clubs that received money under the sports capital programme. Sports clubs are the heart of all communities. There are so many in rural and urban communities and they help children to have a very healthy lifestyle, as the Minister himself has noted. It is very important to keep supporting these sports clubs because many of them find it hard to get money for club or pitch development. I thank the Minister for the work he has done. I know there is an appeals process for clubs that have not been successful. I acknowledge the support clubs receive from the staff in the Department who help them with their applications and who point out where they have gone wrong and help them in the appeals process.That is to be commended and shows an acknowledgement that sports clubs are needed and wanted and being supported by the Government. This issue is linked with participation in sport as part of Healthy Ireland.