Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)

I congratulate Sporting Liberties on securing funding for a full-sized pitch in the south-west inner city. It has taken years of immense work and commitment by volunteers there. There are 8,500 young people in the area but no playing pitches. It is mad to think that, in 2025, there is no full-sized playing pitch in a community of 47,000 people. It is also mad to think that the funding did not come from the State, but a private bank, Mediolanum. I acknowledge its contribution and say "Well done". The Liberties is one of the most disadvantaged communities in the State. The neglect is systemic. We hear the Government talk about how great the sports capital scheme is for developing sports in Ireland. Of course, it is good for those clubs that do access it, but it is only good if they have money and own a facility. Money goes to money, as they say. The sports capital programme works well for resourced clubs, but for a club in a disadvantaged community, it does not work as it should. We need a national sports facility strategy that gets facilities into communities based on need and not on how well resourced the club is. It is interesting to hear Senator Duffy support the need for a national sports facility strategy to get community sports facilities into communities where there are gaps. We all know those communities where there are gaps. They are spread throughout the country, particularly in the inner city. It is really important. The sports capital programme is good at one level, but if you do not have funding and resources and you do not have your own facility, the sports capital programme is no good to you.We need a national sports facilities strategy that works for communities and for sport in Ireland. Ireland is on the bottom of the European ladder when it comes to investment in sport, which makes Sporting Liberties' achievement even more impressive. I would like to acknowledge that. As Senator Duffy said, it would be worthwhile having the Minister in the House to look at a national sports facilities strategy.