Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader.

There is a lot of excitement and pent up anticipation among politicians in these Houses today about the imminent announcement of sports capital funding for our sports clubs, which will allow for much-needed development. Such is the excitement one would think guys in here will be donning tracksuits and showing their own sporting prowess. I am confident that the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Chambers, will don his Santy costume and deliver handsomely for sports clubs.

When the euphoria from this dies down, however, we will require a reappraisal of the funding models we apply and how best to use the resources we have at our disposal. We have the crazy scenario in towns and villages across the country of GAA, soccer and rugby clubs all trying to develop facilities independently. They are fundraising among the same local people who probably have kids in two or three of the clubs. The concept of municipal sports grounds, so prevalent across Europe, including just across the water in England, is considered alien here. It is almost as if we cannot even consider it. Of course, that is due mainly to historical reasons, including the application of a ban by the GAA on people competing in other sports and on the use of facilities by other sports. We have got past that, however. I have made this point before and have been told by sporting commentators that I am crazy and so forth, but for 20 years I stood as a sports supporter on the sidelines and I have seen some really bad facilities. I have seen really good ones as well.

I believe it is not too late, especially when clubs are growing, in particular in the sphere of ladies' sport, whether soccer, GAA or rugby. The concept of municipal sports grounds should still be embraced and developed, especially given that we will see huge population growth in certain areas. We should have a proper debate in this Chamber on the whole model of sports funding and how best to apply it. As I have said before, sports get discussed in these Houses only if there is a major announcement or a bad news story. We should embrace sports and discuss how best to use the resources. I look forward to the announcement by the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, this week about sports capital funding. I congratulate all those who will be in receipt of this funding. I hope they get the best use out of it to deliver for our children and adults, but I think we can do even more in how we look at it.