Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)

I wish to be associated with the remarks on the retirement of Martin Groves. He was a great help to me in my early days, although I am still in my early days in the Seanad, and I put on record my thanks to Martin for his assistance. I would also like to associated with the remarks on the Holy Father, the late Pope Francis, and his contribution to community, society and faith right across the world and the indelible mark he made on inclusion and broadening the church's work for those in the most disadvantaged areas. Just this weekend gone, I visited Erris Athletics Club in north Mayo, whose members have to travel 90 km to access standard and adequate sporting facilities. The club has more than 250 members. It has more than 250 members and 198 members under the age of 14 alone. They have to travel for more than an hour to access adequate athletic facilities. The Erris area is neglected in respect of sporting infrastructure and almost 2,000 people in Erris are registered with disabilities. The community has identified a location that would be located between the Irish Wheelchair Association's facilities and a secondary school. It is desperately needed from a public health and mental health point of view. I ask that the Minister for sport be invited to the Seanad to discuss the opportunity that exists for the State to invest in proper standards and facilities for an area that is sparsely populated but has huge demand for sporting infrastructure. It is often a forgotten area. I compliment Councillor Gerry Coyle, who has been working on this issue and who I will be working to support to deliver this infrastructure for Belmullet. I ask that we that invite the Minister for sport to a discussion on this, that a world-class athletics track be delivered and that we support the Belmullet community in delivering it.