Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, to the House and thank him for coming here to deal with this issue.

Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)
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I move:

That Seanad Éireann:- recognises the central role of sport in Ireland and its enrichment of people’s lives both as active participants and as a country;
- values the better physical and mental health and well-being that is to be gained through sports participation;
- values the achievements of Ireland’s sporting heroes;
- recognises that sport and recreation also have other benefits for the nation both economic in terms of sports tourism and employment opportunities;
- supports the Government’s efforts to increase participation and interest in sport; and
- calls upon the Government to continue to improve and develop sports facilities at national, regional and local level to make Ireland an internationally recognised destination for competitions in as many sports as possible; and to build upon previous successes and work to attract world class competitions to Ireland such as, for example, the rugby and golf world cups, international cycling and equestrian competitions and other high profile events that will have economic, social and reputational benefits for Ireland.".

It is very important that we recognise the role of the various sporting organisations in developing high-performance individual athletes and sporting participation at all levels across the country. We must ensure all available funds are distributed fairly among those most in need of assistance. I acknowledge that the Government will continue to provide support for GAA players through the Irish Sports Council. Sports tourism has a significant part to play in our country and particularly with regard to jobs in the country. The Minister will target available resources at developing and co-ordinating niche tourism products and activity packages that will be attractive to international visitors, focusing on food, sport, culture, eco-tourism activity breaks, water-based recreation, hill-walking festivals, etc.

Event tourism will be prioritised and continue to bring major sporting events to Ireland, such as the successful Volvo Ocean Race and the Solheim and Ryder Cups. I propose that we consider the possibility of staging other international sports in this country, particularly in the golf area, as our golfers are in the top 20 of the world. We have sporting facilities and we catered for the Walker Cup at Portmarnock in 1991, which was a tremendous success. The World Cup of Golf is held biennially in different countries and our golfers deserve to participate in that competition on this island.

Healthy Ireland: A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025 is a new national framework for action to improve the health and well-being of our country over the coming generations. It reflects the international experience of a new commitment to public health, with a focus on prevention. It will include Departments, local authorities, public bodies, businesses, employers, sports and voluntary groups, communities and families. It is a framework that will bring together people and organisations the length and breadth of the country into a national movement with one aim of supporting all of us in enjoying the best possible health and well-being. It is designed to include Departments, local authorities and public bodies, businesses and employers, sports and voluntary groups, communities and families.

Participation in sport is important. According to the Irish Sports Monitor for last year, adult participation levels in sport are continuing to increase, which is to be welcomed. The report demonstrates a continuation of the trend, with active participation in sport increasing from 45% of adult population to 47% since 2011. Participation in team-based sports remains steady and participation in individual sports and personal exercise such as running, cycling and swimming has risen considerably. It is good to note that the increases were strongest in younger age groups and particularly those under 25, as well as the older age group of people over 55. There was a notable increase in participation among the unemployed. Improving health and fitness is the most common motivator for both genders to participate, and some differences exist in respect of other motivation.

The funding provided to sport by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in recent years was €81.9 million in 2011, €77.7 million in 2012, €72.3 million in 2013 and €93.4 million for 2014, which totals €325.3 million. That is at a time when resources are scarce, so the Minister should be congratulated on the amount. The total includes €177 million in current funding channelled through the Irish Sports Council.

This supports the work of the national governing bodies of sport and a wide range of programmes, through the local sports partnerships, to increase participation rates. As we are all aware, participation in sport can bring benefits in terms of health and well-being which can, in turn, produce an economic dividend through reducing costs in the health sector. The balance of the contribution comprises €148 million in capital funding which supports the development of sports facilities through the sports capital programme such as the local authority swimming pool programme and funding for the national sports campus.

The Irish Sports Council which is funded by the Department is a statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport, including the development of strategies for increased participation in sport. The council also has responsibility for the allocation of funding to the national governing bodies of sport. It also supports elite athletes through the high performance programme as they compete on the world and international stage. The performance of Irish athletes not only boosts the morale of the country but also promotes our image internationally and draws tourists to Ireland from across the globe.

This year the Irish Sports Council will see a €3.1 million reduction in its budget, but it will still receive over €42 million. The difficult economic climate is having an impact on public spending across all sectors of society and spending on sport is no different. However, the total sports budget will rise from €74.6 million last year to €93.5 million, a substantial increase of approximately 25%. The increase will facilitate another round of the sports capital programme and ensure work on the long-outstanding indoor arena at the national sports campus will commence this year. This is good news. The increase will also mean that we will be able to fund regional projects. The increased funding for sport comes at a time when there are many calls on limited Government resources and demonstrates the Government's commitment to sport and its understanding of its value to both the economy and the health of the nation. We must remember that sports grants were reintroduced under the guidance of the Minister in 2011, having been withheld during the previous four years. In the past three years many sports organisations have benefited greatly from these grants. These allocations will benefit people in every county by giving them more opportunities to become involved in sport, whatever their ability. The funding will allow a diverse array of sports clubs and groups to build and improve their facilities.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator is over time.

Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)
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Ba mhaith liom bomaite amháin eile.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Carry on regardless.

Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)
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Sin mar a dheineann an Seanadóir féin sa Teach seo. Déanfaidh mé iarracht críochnú.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Go raibh maith agat.

Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)
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The sports capital programme is the Government's main vehicle for funding sport. Sports tourism is important for the country. The global sports tourism industry is valued at an estimated €450 billion. The inaugural European sports tourism summit will be held in Limerick in May as part of Limerick's programme as national city of culture 2014. It is estimated that regional sports tourism activities associated with the Wild Atlantic Way region alone will deliver almost €19 million and attract up to 200,000 additional bed nights. On average, some 150,000 or more golfers visit Ireland each year, from Europe, the United States and the Far East, generating up to €200 million for the economy. Some 35% of domestic tourism in Ireland is attributable to sport. The Emerald Isle Classic American football match at the Aviva Stadium in 2012 was worth an estimated €100 million to the economy. We should recognise also that 40,000 jobs are supported by sport in Ireland.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator has gone well over his time.

Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)
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Beidh mise ag caint leis an Seanadóir lá éigin eile faoi seo. Nuair a bhíonn seisean ag caint sa Teach seo, ní bhíonn éinne ábalta é a stopadh.

Eamonn Coghlan (Independent)
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I second the motion. How much time do I have?

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator has six minutes.

Eamonn Coghlan (Independent)
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About a mile and a half.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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No one is better qualified to speak on this subject than the Senator.

Eamonn Coghlan (Independent)
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Go raibh maith agat. Speaking about sport is up my alley. I welcome the Minister. Sport has been my life; it still is. I enjoyed the thrill of victory but did not enjoy the agony of defeat. I clearly remember going by the Russian 31 years ago. I do not know what age the Minister was at the time, but I remember clenching my fists and looking the Russian in the eye and saying, "Thank God, I got it for you guys." I knew then how important it was that the agony of defeat turned into a moment when I could come back and give thanks to the people who had helped me through my teenage years, into my 20s and to be able to compete at the highest level in the world. I understand the pride, the joy, the emotion and morale attached to sport. I understand athletes who must train in hail, rain or snow and with blood, sweat and tears. We are on first name terms with our Irish athletes: BOD, Sonia, Rory, Pádraig, Katie, Ronnie, the Gooch, Heffo, DJ, Keano and Ooh Aah - we all know who that is. They put significant work into sport, from which they get a lot out of - self-worth and careers - but the people of Ireland also get a lot from their participation in sport through the years. I doubt the people realise the respect Irish sportsmen and women have all over the world. They are an incredible global commodity.

As a coach, I understand what it is like for young kids coming through in my sport, athletics, or in soccer, Gaelic and rugby. I see these sports taking place in my community and elsewhere. I see the coaches, parents, volunteers and fans, with little kids or in Croke Park. At the same time, I see the lost kids - the kids who do not have mentors and do not have parents who will take them to participate in sport after school or at the weekend. I see these kids become a lost generation because of their unfortunate lack of exposure to sport.

We talk about sport and how important it is to Irish society from the perspective of health and well-being and in the context of trying to beat obesity and other ailments such as diabetes. However, we are here again in 2014 trying to address the issues involved. For all the efforts we are making, we are taking one step forward and two steps backward. I understand how difficult it is to move forward continuously. I have experienced this difficulty in the past two years with my Points for Life initiative. Thank God, it has now been accepted in a number of schools in north Wicklow, under the auspices of the Department of Education and Skills, but it is still a struggle to reach out and help this vision and idea to grow.

There are other wonderful initiatives led by the national governing bodies of the various sport such as the Irish Sports Council, the sports partnerships and various other organisations and people such as hill walkers, trekkers and triathletes. There are significant initiatives in place, not just for high performers but also for ordinary people. The same is true for the various Departments involved. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport does a phenomenal job in maintaining its funding of sport through the Irish Sports Council. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs supports initiatives, while the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine supports the Food Dudes programme.

I am sure the Departments of Education and Skills, Health and Social Protection are all involved, but we need change. We have to take risks. As it is too fragmented, we take one step forward and two steps back. We need more interdepartmental co-operation to have more cohesion and streamlining. We also need to think about having just one approach to deliver.

Since 1999 the Irish Sports Council has been a statutory body and progressed enormously. It has gone from shamateurism to professionalism. It has set very high standards which are met by the national governing bodies. High performance programmes and participation supports are well funded and the national governing bodies meet the demands placed on them. Their governance systems are well managed and if they do not achieve, they are not funded. The Irish Institute of Sport has been a phenomenal success not only in athletics but in a multitude of sports.

At the same time as this is happening the grassroots are struggling. These are the people who are taking juvenile athletes through their teenage years into senior competition. They have difficulties with facilities, although we know they are supported by sports capital grants as much as possible. Similar to our approach to health and well-being in society, we need unification in the delivery of sports facilities. We need to think outside the box. Each national governing body competes for a patch of land for dressing rooms or other facilities. Wonderful clubs are building fine facilities with floodlights and astroturf, while down the street another club is struggling to have a 40 ft container removed to install a proper facility. Why are we not calling for the national governing bodies to be brought together to create sports hubs where all sports could come together and where people in the community could practise and work hard?

I welcome the merger of the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority at Abbotstown. It is in the Minister's constituency and will be phenomenal. The Irish Sports Council will continue to deliver services under the auspices of the new Sport Ireland, with Sports Campus Ireland. The National Sports Campus Development Authority will continue to build the campus at Abbotstown into a world-class centre of excellence for sportsmen and women and communities throughout Ireland. We must also think outside the box in this merger. I would like to see Sports Campus Ireland focusing not only on building a wonderful national facility at Abbotstown but also using its expertise to consider potential facilities throughout Ireland. It could give advice to local communities throughout Ireland and help them to manage facilities.

Since its foundation 130 years ago, the GAA has been the lifeblood, cornerstone and pillar of our society. Since it was established by Maurice Davin and Michael Cusack, it is incredible what it has created. The people of Ireland are the GAA. It is unique and its history is amazing. The Gaelic Athletic Association used to look after a multitude of athletics events in Croke Park and throughout the country, but this has changed. What amateur organisation can get 80,000 people into Croke Park five, six or seven times a year for an amateur game, not a rock concert? It is to be found on every street and in every village, town, city in Ireland. The GAA prides itself on its amateur ethos, yet I understand it must go professional to provide what it does for society. The GAA is not Croke Park; it is children, intercounty players, club players and everyone who participates in between, including volunteers, parents, fans and the referees, whom we cannot forget. The country owes it a lot.

Today in Ireland there is consternation because Sky Sports is taking away from rural Ireland its lifeblood. Is this good or bad? It is good because it will bring cash to the organisation, although the GAA states it is bringing in Sky to provide for greater exposure for the Diaspora. It is good because it will help our global tourism efforts. It is good because the GAA is exploding in the United States. It is good because it will bring tens of thousands of visitors to Ireland and the money coming to the GAA will go to the grassroots. However, today people are stating it is a big mistake, that it will break up the GAA and that players will demand more money, as happened in other sports when Sky took over. They state rural Ireland is being sold out. It is stated people will go to pubs, at a time when we are trying to keep children out of pubs, because they will not have access to the 14 games that will not be shown on terrestrial television. A total of 100 games will be streamed, while 14 games will not be shown in Ireland. Taxpayers have put zillions of euro into the GAA and it is fair to say Ireland has received an awful lot back from the GAA. Political intervention at this point might help. If it involves 14 games, why can we not show them in Ireland and allow Sky to show the rest of the world as many games as it likes, if the GAA states this is all about the Diaspora?

I congratulate the Minister on looking after the interests of sports at amateur, voluntary and the highest levels and maintaining funding through difficult times. Sport is in really good shape; it provides the best news stories every day. The only whistle we hear blowing is referee's during a match. Sport is of huge benefit to the country, economy, society and culture and we must be proud of all of those who have helped us, from the amateur game all the way through to the highest ranks.

Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I am glad that we are having this debate. We have had good debates on sport in the past and it gives us all an opportunity to go back on bóithrín na smaointe and reminiscences where sport is concerned. It also gives us an opportunity of making a contribution with the Minister present on why it is important to fund and support sport. I still recall the famous occasion in 1956 when Ronnie Delany lifted the spirits of the people. It seems like yesterday for those of us of a certain age who watched it on black and white television sets. but the reason I make reference to it is it is part of our folklore and who we are as a people. The power of sport and success in it to energise and lift people, particularly at a time of challenge and difficulty, is absolutely huge and cannot be measured in any way. We certainly cannot measure it in financial terms. I include Senator Eamonn Coghlan and the manner in which he raised the spirit of the nation and all of the other iconic figures. I remember having a chat with Dr. Pat O'Callaghan, an Olympic champion hammer thrower. I was very friendly with him. Looking back on the occasions when I spoke to him, he did not make a big issue of it. As he saw it, he did what he had an opportunity to do and the opportunity had come from the support he had received at local level. He took it from there and fine-tuned his skills.

If I look back on my young days - we all have the tendency to do so - when there was not even motor traffic on the roads, every opportunity we had we were out with a hurley playing games or we played cricket or rounders, as we called it, with the bottom of a barrel. The tradition of sport in Ireland is absolutely rooted in the community, which is its main strength.

It is in the main based on volunteerism, people creating pitches, facilities and racetracks through their own efforts. People are prepared to stand at the gate to collect the tickets and are also prepared to carry the jerseys when the team is going out on the field. Volunteerism is an absolutely vital part of sport. Today, I salute and acknowledge the parents who in the middle of a busy day still find time to bring their children to sport in the evening. That is widespread and a great many young people are involved in these activities. Sometimes one does not realise the extent of the involvement because what makes the headlines and dominates the news is professional sport. As Dr. Pat O'Callaghan would have reflected on all those years ago, all this activity is taking place on the ground. I salute the schools, in particular, the Irish Christian Brothers who did so much good work in promoting hurling, football, handball all those years ago. Everybody had an opportunity to participate, as generally speaking, a pitch was located next to the school. People were there to train youngsters and help buy the hurleys. They were others to take us to the games, whether it was for the Rice Cup, the Croke Cup or other competition. The Irish Christian Brothers made a significant contribution to sport at local and community level.

An Garda Síochána should also be mentioned, in particular when the members of the force are not being praised too highly, because the garda played a central role in local communities, extending beyond sport. Their role had a social aspect because they were providing an antidote to antisocial behaviour. When young people were at training in the company of the garda, they viewed him as a friend and confidant and not as somebody who was there to impose penalties. We should not underestimate the importance of that role because the statistics show that in areas where the gardaí were involved in sport in the community and were involved in the Garda League, the call out rate was 50% less. This is an example of antisocial behaviour being tackled in a positive way by activity that takes the young person who might otherwise be prone to taking different road and putting him into a challenging, competitive atmosphere which can be so energising in itself. An Garda Síochána played a very important role in that regard.

One report shows quite clearly, and I believe it to be correct, that for every euro we invest in sport there is a return to the economy of €1.50. If one had money to invest and was told one could get a return of 50% on it, one would say it would be an exceptionally good investment. It is one of the arguments against cuts in supports for sport, whether in the sports capital programme or the elite athlete area. While we must make ends meet and accept elements of austerity in a recession, there are some areas where we must make an exception and sport can be the exception, even on the financial front.

At the end of the day sport is about the wellbeing of the people. If one is involved in sport or even if only out walking at a fast pace, one is benefiting not only physically but mentally from the activity. Likewise one is benefiting from being on the playing pitch. Can one imagine what it does for emotions? Can one imagine how the people of Clare felt when County Clare won the All Ireland? As somebody said, there was not a cow milked for three months after that event. I have seen the impact of winning in County Clare and in my own area, County Tipperary. When a team achieves success at that level one does not need drugs to lift the people. That is the drug for the people because it energises, lifts and inspires them. I think inspiration is a very important word. I know the Minister faces the challenge of going to Cabinet and being able to argue on behalf of sport. What we are really saying is that we must lift ourselves out of an abyss of depression, to which we as a nation have sunk, as a result of the economic challenges.

Many people have had to emigrate as a result of economic pressure and very often the saving grace for them in their countries of adoption is the opportunity to go to a GAA club and excel in sport. It is also the lifeline back to home. I think the jury is out on the decision of the GAA to sell the broadcasting rights to Sky television. I hear both arguments, but there are 70 million people of Irish extraction throughout the world. It would be significant if the GAA could reach the diaspora. I think we owe it to the diaspora. The issue of older people in rural areas losing out, as has been mentioned, is a genuine argument. We hope that when the GAA council was discussing this issue that it took on board arguments on both sides. I am glad to see that RTE will have free view for major Gaelic games. It would be very wrong if that were not the case.

The amateur status in sport should not be under estimated. If people have the skills and ambition to go forward in professional sport, that is an important choice whether it be in international Rugby or soccer. The success of our professional sports people means a great deal to people.

There are different ways of looking at sport. Let us consider the economic advantage of sports tourism which brings in €1.8 billion annually. We are ideally situated to develop and enhance that sector. I do not think we should feel we are wasting time or money in doing that. By all means we must think of those involved in the higher echelons of sport but we must also consider all the wonderful sports facilities that we have on the ground. These facilities are being well used, but they must be maintained. There will an ongoing requirement for funding. There are others waiting in the queue to develop their facilities, having collected a percentage of the money and identified a piece of ground. I hope the capital grant will not be cut any further. It is very important that we nurture sport at community level. If we do that we have less antisocial behaviour, a reduction in the incidence of crime and fewer older people feeling threatened in their homes. Young people will also have a sense of purpose and worth. Surely that is what all legislation should be discussing. My gut feeling is that the Minister will not be too far off from what we are saying here today and will bring that same message back to Government.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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A Chathaoirleach, a Sheanadóiri, I am taking this business today as my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, is in Milan on official business related to the Giro d'Italia, which I will speak about later on.

As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I am committed to increasing and developing participation and interest in sport, improving standards of performance and developing sports facilities, all of which contribute to a healthier society and an improved overall quality of life. I strongly believe that sport has the potential to enrich the lives of all people and we should all recognise the benefits that we can gain from being active and striving for better performance.

This year, the sports and recreation services programme accounts for 6% of my Department's budget. This programme's allocation has increased by 28% on 2013, mainly as a result of the additional funding of €11.5 million voted under the Government stimulus plan for the sports capital programme and the allocation of €13 million towards the development of the indoor arena at the National Sports Campus.

This is a very significant investment in Irish sport and a strong indication of our commitment as a Government. Funding from my Department to the Irish Sports Council for this year is €42.5 million, a marginal decease on the figure for last year. The focus of this spending is on increasing participation in sport and physical activity. This is one of the key objectives of my Department and I am very aware of the considerable efforts the governing bodies and sports partnerships are making in encouraging greater participation. In 2013 this investment resulted in over 200,000 people participating in locally delivered programmes, an additional 20,000 participants taking part in the Women in Sport programme and over 700,000 children taking part in youth field sports across the country. I will continue to work with the Irish Sports Council to ensure there is significant progress in the provision of sporting opportunities for young people.

The health and social benefits of sport are widely recognised. One of the most urgent health issues in Ireland is obesity, with research showing that 38% of Irish people are overweight and 23% are obese. A worrying aspect is that one in four children carries excess weight and it is clear that an increase in participation in sport and physical activity, added to diet control and greater personal responsibility, would greatly benefit the overall health of the country and lower costs to the health sector. I am encouraged by the latest data which show an increase in the number participating in sport. The overwhelming role of Government policy is to increase participation in sport. Trophies and medals are important, but they are not as important as having the broader population participate in sport. Figures from the Irish Sports Monitor for the first half of 2013 show that participation in sport and physical activity in Ireland continues to increase, having increased from 45% in 2011 to 47% in 2013. I would love to claim credit for this, but I do not think that would be honest, as we cannot put it all down to Government policy. Lifestyles are changing and most people are becoming more health conscious, although there is a sub-group who do not care about their health. People have a little more time on their hands, probably as a result of the economic downturn. Certainly, they have less money in their pockets than they used to and perhaps they are taking up walking and individual sports more than they would have in the past. However, Government policies are helping and investing in sport is producing a real return. We will continue to work to increase this figure further. The Eurobarometer for sport, published last week by the European Commission, shows that Ireland is slightly ahead of the European average for those who exercise regularly or play sport. It also shows that Ireland is below average, for both men and women, when it comes to those who have sedentary lifestyles and never, or seldom, exercise or play sport.

Last year was an exceptional one for high performance sport in Ireland, with 67 medals achieved at world and European events. This is a record and I am sure 2014 will also be a good year for our sports people. We are lucky to have a host of talented and highly skilled sportsmen and women who are reaching the top levels across a wide range of sports.

I know Senators on all sides of the House will join me in acknowledging the value and role of the sports capital programme. It is vital for sports organisations to be able to provide modern fit-for-purpose facilities to encourage and support participation and high performance across a range of sports at various locations throughout the country. 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 capital projects.

My Department was delighted to make allocations of €31 million in the 2012 round of the programme. This was the first round of grants since 2008, when the programme was suspended. 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, particularly those which did not have their own clubhouse, pitch or land and which were unable to avail of it previously. These changes led to a record number of 2,170 applications in 2012, a number that showed that that round of the programme was very much needed. With such a high demand, it was never going to be possible to fund all applications. Finite resources can only stretch so far and I appreciate some clubs were disappointed. Such disappointment is understandable and natural. However, this is the business of government - allocating scarce resources to meet competing needs. In 2012 almost 500 eligible applications did not secure any funding. It is important to emphasise that submitting a valid application did not in any way guarantee funding in 2012 owing to the high demand. There was simply not enough money available to fund all of the good projects submitted, but as part of the scoring system for this round, we are giving additional points to clubs which have not benefited from the programme in the past.

As Senators will be aware, provision was made in the most recent budget for another round of the programme, with allocations to meet demand. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, announced the latest round of the programme earlier this year, with €40 million available for allocation, a 33% increase on the figure for the previous programme. The 2014 round of the programme has allowed sports organisations for the since second time since the Government took office to apply for funding for essential works such as new changing rooms, pitches, lighting, sports equipment and other projects. It means that clubs which missed out in the last round can make another application and provide jobs in their local communities. There are more than 2,000 applications in total, another clear sign of the continuing high demand and need for sports capital funding. All of this funding for sport is against the background of ongoing budget cuts. It demonstrates in the most tangible manner the Government's commitment to sport and clear understanding of the value of sport to the economy and the nation's health and morale.

The programme for Government includes a commitment that event tourism will be prioritised in order to continue to bring major events to Ireland. The hosting of major sports events, both participative and spectator sports, can provide a great showcase for Ireland and drive international visitor numbers. The media coverage of sports tourism events helps to put Ireland on travel itineraries as a holiday destination. Accordingly, I am supportive of the ongoing efforts of the tourism agencies and the national governing bodies of sport to attract international events, subject, of course, to an assessment of the costs and benefits involved in providing any State financial support, in particular, the number of overseas visitors they will attract.

Other important sports events take place each year, for example, the GAA all-Ireland series, the six nations rugby championship which brings in significant numbers of visitors from overseas without any need for State support and the Irish Open golf tournament. Where appropriate, the tourism bodies work with these and other sports bodies to maximise the tourism benefits of events. For example, the Irish Open receives significant support from Fáilte Ireland as its main sponsor. Tourism Ireland is the body responsible for promoting in overseas markets the island of Ireland as a visitor destination. Working closely with Fáilte Ireland, it is promoting key sports events taking place in 2014, including the visit of the Giro d'ltalia cycle race which I mentioned and the Croke Park Classic American football game between the University of Central Florida and Penn State which is happening at the end of August. It is our ambition to host a college football game at least every second year in Dublin, following the Notre Dame-Navy game two years ago. NFL games are played regular at Wembley. We have not managed to secure an NFL game for Ireland, but we now intend to target college football games and have one played, perhaps in Dublin, every other year, if not every year.

Senators will be aware that in November last the Government considered a memorandum on a bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023. While the memorandum identified a number of challenges, the great potential of the event is also clear. Hosting it on a cross-Border basis in 2023 would be a significant opportunity for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It is probably the biggest event we could host on the island. In response to the memorandum the Government expressed strong support for the proposal. In order to progress the matter further, on 22 January the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, and I met the Northern Ireland Ministers, Ms Arlene Foster and Carál Ní Chuilín, who are responsible for tourism and sport, respectively, in the Northern Ireland Executive. We agreed to establish a working group to examine some key issues and report back to us in the summer. The working group, chaired by Mr. Hugo MacNeill, has held two meetings already, with the next meeting scheduled to take place on 11 April. I look forward to receiving its report.

More immediately, the focus of the cycling world will be on Ireland next month with the Giro d'ltalia "Big Start". There will be three days of pre-race celebrations in Belfast, followed by spectacular opening stages in Northern Ireland, before racing from Armagh to Dublin. The giro's choice of Ireland for the Grande Partenzais historic. The famous landscapes of Ireland, North and South, will be on view via the global television broadcast coverage the giro achieves and the economic benefits the event will generate will be immediate. I pay tribute to the efforts of the Northern Ireland Executive, in particular, the Minister, Ms Foster, for her determination to secure the Giro D'ltalia in 2014 and the support being provided for the event via the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. The Irish Government, through Fáilte Ireland, is also supporting the Giro D'ltalia visit and I also wish to acknowledge the support being provided by Dublin City Council for the event.

Work is continuing on the development of facilities at the National Sports Campus at Blanchardstown. When they are completed, the National Sports Campus will provide world-class training facilities and support systems for Ireland's elite sports people, offering facilities that will compare favourably with the best internationally.

A number of new facilities were opened in the past year, including a world-class national horse sport arena, a national modern pentathlon centre, a national diving training centre and a multi-sport synthetic pitch facility. Sports headquarters houses the offices of 20 sporting bodies. The FAI has located its headquarters on the campus, which also houses the National Aquatic Centre and the Institute of Sport. For the first time, athletes, specifically the swimmers, are also living on campus.

I recently had the pleasure of turning the sod for the development of pitches by the FAI and the GAA. Facilities that are commencing development this year include a high-performance training facility at the Institute of Sport building and two community turf pitches. A very significant development is the commencement of work on the national indoor arena, which is one of the few major pieces of national sporting infrastructure for elite athletes in Ireland that remain to be built. While we have an excellent indoor track in Athlone, on which I have had the opportunity to run, the indoor arena will be more accommodating in that it will provide indoor facilities for 30 different sports. This project has been made possible by the funding provided by the Government from the proceeds of the sale of the national lottery licence. The arena will include indoor athletic and gymnastics facilities as well as a multi-sport indoor training hall. I acknowledge the support of the Taoiseach and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for making funding available for the project. I hope that it will be possible to continue developing facilities in the coming years, including, for example, a velodrome and a badminton arena.

In regard to the important issue of education, I welcome the fact that physical education will become an examinable short course subject in the new junior certificate. I hope it can also become an exam subject for the leaving certificate in the way that art and music are currently examined. I understand the national curriculum advisory committee and the Minister for Education and Skills are open to this.

Senator Eamonn Coghlan spoke about the development of sports hubs, which is something I favour. I have seen how the centre sportifmodel and the municipal sports centres operate in France. That is a good model. This round of the sports capital programme awards additional points to clubs, local authorities and others where they are willing to share facilities or form joint partnerships with schools and other sporting bodies. For a long time that could not happen in Ireland because of the GAA's views on what it referred to as garrison games. Separate facilities were developed around the country for that reason, which is regrettable. If I was able to start all over again - perhaps my successor might do this - I would like to ring-fence a small capital budget of €3 million or €4 million to build one municipal sports centre every year. Just as we are currently building one new coastguard station every year, we could ring-fence money to build a centre sportifevery year. It would be a slow process but we would have 20 of them in 20 years' time. We would probably need to identify a sports body or local authority that would act as an anchor tenant, but it could be a good model.

I agree with Senator Ó Murchú on the contribution that sport makes to personal well-being. I have discovered in the last few years how a simple run in the park can clear one's head. One sometimes comes home having made a decision. It might not be the right one but one is comfortable with it, having had time to escape the Blackberry and the iPhone. Throughout the darkest times of the recession, sporting achievements helped to lift national morale. I also concur with the Senator regarding what the GAA does for the Irish diaspora. Whenever I travel abroad I try to link in with the local GAA club because it is fascinating to see how many people who previously had no involvement in Gaelic games or interest in the GAA while they lived in Ireland discover the GAA when they end up in Singapore or Seoul. The GAA club is a de factoconsulate for Ireland in places where we have no representation.

I would be cautious about the Senator's suggestion that every euro invested in sport delivers a return of €3 or €4. We always hear lobby groups and NGOs produce Jack and the Beanstalk research of this nature. If it was true, we could invest €1 billion in sport and heritage and with the €4 billion returned we would have no deficit. The reality is that there is considerable deadweight when investing in anything. If the Government put nothing into sport, there would still be the Six Nations and the All-Ireland championship. By and large, the Government invests in areas of sport that do not generate an economic return. That is why Government investment is necessary. Many sports do not need governmental support and we want to invest in areas that probably do not generate particularly large economic returns. The exception might be sports tourism, where we make the calculation that the amount we invest will be less than the return.

I assure the House that the Government will continue its work to increase participation in sport, improve and develop sports facilities and promote Ireland internationally. I thank Senators for their continued support and interest in this matter.

Denis Landy (Labour)
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I welcome the positive report we received from the Minister on the Government's activities in the area of sports. In 2013, sports contributed €2.4 billion to the Irish economy, and 40,000 jobs are supported through Irish sports. The economic analysis by Senator Ó Murchú may not stand up to scrutiny but it is a fact that €818 million was spent on sporting initiatives in Ireland. This investment is welcome because it puts money into local economies, from the supermarket providing the bottles of water to the sports shops selling the equipment. I welcome the progress report on the efforts of the country to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. It would be a fantastic achievement to host it because it would put us on the world map in another way and bring in revenue from people visiting the country.

However, there a number of areas in which we can make improvements. One such area is tax relief on donations to sporting organisations. Where people make donations in other areas, such as in health, they can avail of tax reliefs. This does not happen in respect of sports but it has been recommended by the Commission on Taxation. I welcome the merger of the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority. The Minister outlined the progress that has been made in this regard in Abbotstown. In regard to the proposals on a betting tax, I understand the revenues accrued will be reinvested in horse and greyhound racing. I am a betting man who likes to have a punt almost daily, but many people bet on other sports besides horse and greyhound racing, such as soccer and GAA.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Even politics.

Denis Landy (Labour)
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They even bet on politics, although I do not expect the money to go back into politics. Perhaps the Minister will comment on whether revenues from the betting tax could be invested in other sports.

Credit should be given to the 500,000 adults who volunteered in Irish sports in 2013. As Senator Eamonn Coghlan noted, people volunteer to support sporting activities every day of the week. Sports also help to maintain the physical and mental well-being of our citizens, and participation rates have increased to the point at which 47% of adults participate in some type of sporting activity.

It could be doing one of the looped walks on the Galtee Mountains or elsewhere. It does not have to be a competitive sport. As the Minister said, obesity, particularly childhood obesity, is a major problem in Ireland. Everything that can be done to ensure young people are enthused and encouraged to become involved in sport should be done. According to the ESRI, 88% of children are regularly involved in sport. That brings to the fore the participation rate of children in school-organised activities. The average number of hours dedicated to sport in schools is only 37 a year, which is in stark contrast to the number in other countries such as France where 180 hours in school year are dedicated to sport. We can improve on this figure. I recognise that sport will become part of the new junior cycle, but we need to intervene at a younger age. Irish pupils spend only 4% of the school year participating in sport, while, for example, in Croatia which will soon join the European Union pupils spend 15% of their time on participation in sport. It is often said that when countries accede to the European Union, they will learn from other member states, but we could learn from Croatia.

Tax credits for families to encourage all children to become involved in sport should be considered. There is such a credit in Nova Scotia, Canada and the system operates well. The parent of any child aged up to 17 years enrolled in sport can claim a tax credit. We say sports are amateur and free, but I have a son who, unfortunately, was involved with ponies and I was nearly broke. He still wanted to ride ponies and there was no point in telling him that Daddy did not have the money for it. Participating in sport costs money. It would be positive, therefore, if the Minister could examine the introduction of a tax credit.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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That was before the Senator became a Member of the House.

Denis Landy (Labour)
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I am certainly broke now.

I acknowledge what Senator Eamonn Coghlan has done for sport in this country. Reference has been made to the GAA. Last year we had a fantastic occasion in my home town to honour Maurice Davin, the first president of the GAA, who was born there. He was the only president to serve two terms. Senator Eamonn Coghlan, a great sports ambassador, came for a one mile fun run.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Who won?

Denis Landy (Labour)
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We let the Senator win.

Eamonn Coghlan (Independent)
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The over 60s event.

Denis Landy (Labour)
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As the Senator said that night, Maurice Davin was the first president of the Gaelic Athletic Association and somewhere along the way in the mists of history it became a mainstream hurling and football association which I support strongly and athletics were not as prominent. It is great that the Senator, one of our foremost athletes, recognised Maurice Davin. I greatly appreciate it.

We all need sporting icons because when we engage in sporting activity, we have to think about somebody. It is easier on a winter's evening to sit in front of a television than go out and run. Sean Kelly, who is also from Carrick-on-Suir, is another great icon. It is great that the Giro d'Italia is coming to Ireland. However, it needs to be promoted more strongly nationally and internationally. It is apporaching and there is not a great realisation either in the sporting world, particularly the cycling world about this event. Can anything else be done to promote this?

I commend the Minister for the work he has done since taking office. We have a long way to go, but a great deal has been done. His proposal for a local sports centre in every town is fantastic. I do not know how he will get over all of the historical events that have happened. When he mentioned garrison sport, I thought of the term "garrison towns" which my late father used all his life. He said it with disdain because he was a GAA man and the connotation was that a garrison town had a good soccer team. I love soccer, but he did not. The first time he ever watched the sport was when Ireland took part in the World Cup finals for the first time. Notwithstanding this, all sports must be brought together and we must ensure everyone has access to sport and that all sports have an equal opportunity to prosper. I hope the Minister can make a start with the provision of sports centres. Perhaps he will be in office for the next 20 years and see 20 of them built.

Jillian van Turnhout (Independent)
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I welcome the Minister. I particularly welcome his openness to all sports and like the emphasis he placed on increasing the participation of women and young people in sport. We need to pay greater attention to this aspect. Previous speakers have referred to the positive role sports play and the benefits are endless. We have a proud sporting tradition in Ireland. One of our proudest moments as a nation was, undoubtedly, hosting the Special Olympics which highlighted our national strengths and celebrated our wonderful athletes.

Sports have many positive effects on society and, as legislators, we have a role in increasing participation and interest. Colleagues have referred to the economic benefits, but I would focus on the physical benefits and mental well-being of society. If we can improve mental and physical well-being positively, this will reduce health care spending in the long term, which everyone would like to see.

The Minister mentioned the GAA. I will not get into the current debacle about pay-per-view television and so on. However, he referred to emigrant clubs. One person tweeted me and asked about creating a role for these clubs which promote the GAA abroad and giving them a voice. There should be a two-way conversation.

Like many colleagues, I was on the edge of my seat as I watched the Six Nations match between Ireland and France which demonstrated the power of sport. We all became video referees that day in deciding on whether there was a forward pass. I congratulate the team, but I also congratulate the national women's rugby team on its success last year.

We have a fantastic history in sport and the development of new sports. One example is the mixed martial arts, MMA, fighter Conor McGregor who is promoting the sport on the world stage and acting as a role model for a different group of young people by promoting new possibilities in sport. We must encourage the development of new sports. It is imperative that we recognise the contribution of Irish women on the sports field because they encourage participation. Katie Taylor brought back a gold medal from the Olympics Games held in London in 2012. Little work was done in the country while her gold medal fight was on. The participation of females in sport can sometimes be under-reported. It is welcome that RTE has begun to broadcast women's rugby matches, but I would like other sports to be treated more equally. I do not expect coverage to be equal, but it needs to increase. It is welcome that women's rugby games are being moved from lesser stadiums to the main grounds such as Wembley Stadium and the Aviva Stadium. This should be encouraged in other fields.

I spoke to a camogie player who wanted to participate in women's rugby 7s as an opportunity to go to the Olympic Games. Opportunities are opening in sports to be part of the games. Paralympic sports have also developed. I recently read a fascinating article about wheelchair hurling and how it was developing. The possibilities are endless. While preparing for the debate, I learned more about ultimate frisbee and tag rugby. Cricket has also become popular at grassroots level, given the national team's success. I know many young people who are involved in the sport. Initiatives such as the get-into-cricket scheme are welcome because they provide a significant boost for the game.

We should support all sports to enhance choice. One of the issues I have relates to schools. If pupils attend a large school, they usually have a choice of sports to play, but they do not in small schools. Children are either good or bad at a sport and may not necessarily be exposed to other sports.

That is why I wanted to raise the issue of the French municipalities and the centres sportifs. Bringing sports together in a community is something we really need to look at. We must decide whether club or community will dominate. I would like to see that communities would have a stronger role and when we, as a State, are investing, we encourage organisations to come together.

The Minister mentioned the GAA. In my community, it is not the sole sporting organisation which will have territorial rights on pitches and on its turf where one cannot use it. Even though those pitches and sporting facilities lie idle during certain times of the day and certain times of the year, they have a dominance at one time, they lie idle, but they belong to that sporting discipline and they cannot share it. We need to look at how we can encourage people to share. When we are looking at the sports capital grants, we should ask what other sports in the community will be able to use this facility when it is not actively being used by the particular sporting discipline.

We need to discourage fragmentation and give young people the opportunity, as they do in France, where there can have different sports, such as tennis, swimming and rugby, under the one roof together, working in harmony rather than being seen to be in that competitive space, because we need to give people an exposure to the different types of sports.

I say, "Well done", to the Minister on the Giro D'Italia. I wish Ireland every success in the tender for the rugby world cup. It is great to see us coming together as an island to work to hopefully bring it here in 2023. Sport is of immense importance.

I thank my colleagues in Fine Gael for moving this motion. It has given me an opportunity to research and learn more, which is part of our role as Senators.

I will finish with a powerful quote that I found from a US legend, Dean Karnazes. He said, "Some seek the comfort of their therapist's office, others head to the corner pub and dive into a pint, but I chose running as my therapy." That sums up sport. We should be encouraging people to get out and participate in a community. That is what we should be looking for as a society.

Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the Minister to the House and thank the Fine Gael Senators for bringing this motion forward.

Following on from something Senator Landy mentioned about ponies, my poor father's heart was broken when I was younger looking for a pony and horse-riding lessons, but it was not long until a concussion and a cracked collarbone knocked that one out of me,-----

Denis Landy (Labour)
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He was lucky.

Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein)
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-----although I can fairly nag, moan and whinge when I want to.

As we all know, sport is a rich tapestry made up of professionals, amateurs, community volunteers and leading sporting figures. It is a vitally important part of our culture and heritage, and especially for the economy.

I mention an event that happened last year in my county. In October, Cavan played host to the first test match of the International Rules Series in Breffni Park. With a capacity of nearly 35,000 for this test alone, never mind that of the second test in Croke Park, it was merely one example of the considerable benefits that these large sporting events can have for local economies. It was tremendous news and it gave a great boast to the local area. It was an endorsement of the quality of the venue. It was a great achievement that Cavan was chosen, not only for the local GAA organisation and the county council, but the chamber of commerce and other organisations in the county which lobbied for it.

Seizing upon the opportunity that the event provided, Cavan County Council, under the able management of the outgoing county manager, Mr. Jack Keyes, in conjunction with the GAA and numerous others, organised a festival around the test match to showcase Cavan in its entirety. While the match was the centrepiece of the festivities, there was plenty to do over the weekend. Speaking at the time of the event, Mr. Keyes told the local newspaper that it was a once in a lifetime chance for Cavan to impress the country and people abroad, that it would showcase Cavan's ability to host a major festival, that it had something for everybody and the local authority was particularly encouraging families from around the county and beyond to come into Cavan town. Under the clever marketing banner, "Fun Rules", they were successful in hosting the Ireland versus Australia match as one of the highlights of a weekend festival of traditional music, street theatre, sessions, exhibitions, busking, family entertainment, an outdoor gig, a conference on mental health, and a traditional concert with the 2013 Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Tour of Ireland group. That, in itself, demonstrates that these sporting events, if done right, provide significant benefit, not only for the sporting organisations but for the local economy and all disciplines in the area.

The motion also mentions valuing the achievements of Ireland's sporting heroes. I would commend that but, like other Senators, I would also like to use the term here to describe, not only the athlete, the player, the Olympian or the person who is standing on the podium getting a medal but any person with any kind of involvement in sport. It is also the person organising the family fun days, registration days, going into the schools talking about the sport, coaches, mentors, and the mammies and daddies who are doing the drop-offs and pick-ups. It is the club official who is organising jerseys, team sheets, training, Jaffa cakes, buses. It is the physio who is bringing these competitors back to fitness. It is the whole structure that unites behind a person or team and gives him or her the structure to develop and flourish.

I acknowledge the work of my colleague, Councillor Brian McKeown, the head coach in Cavan Boxing Club who has been working with Olympic medalist John Joe Nevin since he was 13. I have seen first-hand the role that Brian plays in the club. Like those he trains, I would consider him a hero. In all such motions, it is important we recognise the role these volunteers and others play.

I have to give credit where credit is due. As has been mentioned already this evening, the sports capital grants have proven to be very successful. I would ask, in noting the funding success, that this becomes a regular stream of funding and that the Minister ensures it is prioritised for areas of social need and, as Senator van Turnhout mentioned, those who are sharing services.

Senator van Turnhout also mentioned women. It is really important that we give credit where credit is due. Most of our renowned and famous athletes are women. We have Sonia O'Sullivan, Catherina McKiernan and Katie Taylor who have become Irish household names, and Irish soccer player Stephanie Roche became an international viral hit - I am not sure how many Senators have seen it - when a YouTube clip of her goal was tweeted by the likes of Gary Lineker, Stephen Reid and Piers Morgan. One can see on YouTube the amount of hits that got. I do not know if there is a male soccer player in Ireland who could do something like that. More needs to be done to level the playing pitch for women. Often the coverage of women's sports places them at a clear disadvantage, not because of lack of funding but merely because it might not be at the top of the priority lists, perhaps, for some people.

We need to ensure that people are encouraged to participate in sports at all level and that funding resources are not denied to teams, groups and, as has been mentioned, communities. It is important that there is that community structure to engage as many as possible and to ensure that, no matter what sporting activity one wants to engage in, the facilities will be there, in one form or another. We have a rich sporting history and it is vital that we target resources to build on that legacy.

I thank the Minister for coming to the House and for the work that he and his colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, have done in that Department.

Susan O'Keeffe (Labour)
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I thank the Minister for being with us.

I thank the Fine Gael Senators for raising this issue because it gives us an opportunity to show-off a bit, I guess, about our own area. As we all know, sport in the community is strong and we are lucky to have so many who are so dedicated to sport for both adults and children.

In many ways, the profile of sport has changed. It used to be just a case of going out and kicking a ball around, but now we have international, tourism, community and health dimensions to it. Whichever way we turn, there are things that we can do and things that we are doing. I am encouraged, when I join all the dots up, as the Minister has, by all the activity that is going on. It is a good day for sport.

I am sorry I missed Senator Brennan's presentation, and also that of Senator Eamonn Coghlan. From the committee room, I could see the latter looking animated. Of course, no better man. He has made his own personal contribution to sport and it is great to see him contributing here. That is really what the Seanad does best, when people bring their individual skills and strengths to the Seanad and to the nation, and Senator Eamonn Coghlan is a fine example of that.

Senator Reilly spoke about women in sport.

A couple of weeks ago, I attended the all-Ireland schools under-19 girls basketball finals in the national basketball centre. I was lucky that my daughter was playing for her school, Ursuline College, Sligo, and they won. Needless to remark, we all were overwhelmed and delighted. However, it was an important moment because that is the time at which girls in particular stop playing. They perhaps lose interest in sports and it always has been difficult to keep them involved. When one sees them becoming involved and being highly motivated by good coaches, it really is a good moment.

I acknowledge the encouragement that both the Minister and the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, have given on this issue in respect of the junior certificate. However, it would be very important to see it as a leaving certificate subject because that would encourage people to perceive it as being part of their lives and not simply something they did separately. I am aware that some programmes are being undertaken to keep girls engaged in sport because unless one does so, they will not proceed to women's sports. The latter always has been the underdog but this should not be the case. Simply because women are physically weaker and do not have the strength does not mean they lack the skill or the enthusiasm or the commitment to sport.

I would love the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to continue to give a lead in bringing women properly into the 21st century with regard to sport. It is an extremely important issue both for women in general and for the sports as well. The aforementioned example made me realise how it did not matter that they were girls. They had won and had just as much pleasure and joy as any boys' team might have had. However, I should add that the boys of Summerhill College, Sligo, also reached the under-16 final, in which they were runners-up. That says a great deal about basketball in Sligo, which is not a county noted for basketball. Many people are doing a lot of hard work there and I wish to take this opportunity to thank publicly the coaches and parents who really have struggled, pushed and supported those students to do so well.

As the Minister is aware, there is a great scramble each year for the sports capital grants. It is a great system and there will never be enough money. As the Minister noted, there was a shortfall last year and undoubtedly there will be one this year. Is there a possibility of implementing something similar to the philanthropy system that operates in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht? There is matched funding whereby if one can get support, that Department will also provide support. I do not know whether the Minister has considered such a proposal or whether it is possible but I humbly suggest it might be because there are always people who are willing to sponsor sport. Moreover, they are often willing to sponsor it at a local level with €2,000 or €3,000, rather than with the hundreds of thousands of euro that are needed for the showcase sports. I agree they are also needed and as a nation, we must take pride in the moments they provide, which are just as important. However, at a community level, another part of the funding perhaps might be made up in that way. That might open out the sports grants a little and bring in other members of the community, who perhaps once played but no longer play sports themselves but who wish to give something back in that way. Perhaps the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport will be able to help in that regard.

I certainly would be shot if I failed to mention cycling. The Minister will be aware that again, Sligo has been leading the way with cycle paths on roads and so on to encourage people in general to cycle. In addition, close to where I live, the Coolaney Development Company intends to have one of four national off-road mountain biking centres. Again, this is a growing high-energy sport and the aforementioned company is doing this in partnership with Coillte. This is a terrific partnership between two arms of the State with people engaging in joined-up thinking to ascertain what can be done to make use of the available land in a new way for the benefit of the people, which I really encourage.

Forgive me if I have missed this point, but can a way be found to support cycling in primary schools in Ireland? My children attended primary school in the United Kingdom and they were all taught cycling at school. It was a great thing to give them confidence on the road and in cycling and not to be opposed to that from an early age. I acknowledge there is the matter of resources but there always are people in the community available. A number of vibrant groups in Sligo are involved in cycling, both the long-haul mad fellows, as I call them, who love to go out for 50 km or 100 km, and those who like to cycle around town and who always have a bike attached to them. Can their energy, enthusiasm and knowledge be harnessed to bring children into cycling at a younger age? Cycling is also very good because it is not very hard on the body, unless of course one becomes one of the mad fellows.

Finally, I welcome the Wild Atlantic Way initiative, of which the Minister's office, as well as that of the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, have been hugely supportive. It is a terrific piece of marketing for the west of Ireland. It is a great name that conjures great ideas. There surely must be an opportunity for wild Atlantic sport on the Wild Atlantic Way because we have the cliffs, the sea and the surf. I spoke to a surfer yesterday who loves to surf in Sligo but who finds the waves at Mullaghmore too big. There is an acknowledgement within that community that the beaches in Sligo and all the way up through the north west are terrific for surfing. While this is known, there are many other sports and a chain of wild Atlantic sport would be another way of marketing the Wild Atlantic Way, as well as giving encouragement to those who are trying to invest in those slightly more high-octane sports. There is a market for such sports and people are willing to travel for them. They are not interested in the weather and do not care what it is doing but simply wish to get out there in a great fresh-air environment in a country that is just coming to such sports and which consequently is not yet overwhelmed and has not been spoiled. Ireland has much to offer in that area and from the perspective of tourism potential, it would go a long way towards supporting the Wild Atlantic Way in another fashion. I acknowledge that people are doing this in a small way but if it were grown out of the Minister's own commitment to sport, as well as that of the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, it would be a good thing. I thank the Minister for his attendance and for listening.

Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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Much has been said this evening about sport and be it in respect of participation levels or elite athletes, sport is an international phenomenon here in Ireland. Ireland can be described as a sporting nation. People here probably are sporting mad with regard to athletics, soccer, Gaelic games such as hurling or football, horse racing and any and many sports. In recent years, the participation levels in sports certainly have increased. Anecdotally, one can perceive this on any street or town nationwide where people are involved in triathlons, duathlons and in 5 km or 10 km events to raise money for a local GAA club or simply for charity. This must be welcomed.

I certainly welcome some of the initiatives being taken by the Government on the development of sport in general and in particular, I welcome the reintroduction of the sports capital programme. It should never have been dropped in 2008 as that was the wrong decision. It was correct to reopen it on a selective basis and I greatly welcome the funding available under the programme. While everyone would wish to have more funding available for capital investments, we are living in times when the money simply is not there and there must be other ways to find such funding. I intend to touch on one such suggestion in a few minutes. I refer to the work being done at present by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport through the Irish Sports Council. It must be acknowledged that the work being done by the latter is second to none. Although it is administering a budget the Minister has indicated has been cut slightly, it is doing the absolute maximum with it. The council is governing the local sports partnership model and that model, which provides co-ordinated sport, facilitates the development of sport and assists non-governmental organisations, NGOs, in each county, has been shown to be a successful and proven model.

The issue of participation has been touched on in the first instance and participation in sport is vital. While there is a need to fund initiatives that will lead more women to being involved in sport, hand in hand with that there must be more recognition given to female leaders in sport. Regardless of whether this is achieved through the carding system or through the elite programmes for some teams, both go hand in hand. When a young kid on the street sees there is a female athlete or a male athlete achieving success and being recognised for that, it drives that child at that level to be involved, to participate and to interact with sport. Senator O'Keeffe is correct on the issue of high participation levels among children, young people and the youth age groups, after which there is a drop-off and the question is how can that be targeted.

There is a need to target participation in sport, be it through the local partnership model or through other initiatives, and those initiatives require funding. Childhood obesity, which the Minister mentioned, is a difficulty, as is adult obesity. One of the ways to target that problem is through initiatives such as the healthy schools programme. A Trinity College survey carried out recently found that childhood obesity was 9% lower in schools that participated in the targeted health schools programme in the Tallaght area of west Dublin. It found that 16% of the children in schools that had taken part in the healthy school programme were obese compared to 25%, or one in four, in a comparable control group, which equates to a difference of nine percentage points. It showed that children who were not involved were more inclined to be overweight compared to children who were involved. That is only one programme and it is a pilot programme. It takes money to run such programmes on a national basis.

I very much welcome that physical education will be part of the curriculum up to the junior certificate. That needs to be extended to the leaving certificate programme. Initiatives need to be taken in schools at primary level as well. Senator Eamonn Coghlan brought forward such an initiative, and that template, together with other templates such as the healthy schools programme, needs to be funded. The question is how we can do that. The Minister will be competing with other Ministers to provide funding for initiatives such as the carding system for Robbie Heffernan types and those who achieve success at international, Olympic or world level. The question is how we fund such initiatives. On the other hand, how can we increase the participation levels in sport among children and fund more women to participate in sport, fund the provision of facilities, fund initiatives to keep young people engaged in sport rather than dropping out of it and fund other initiatives? One initiative could be a healthy towns initiative, a healthy townlands initiative, or a healthy families initiative such as that shown on an RTE programme recently, which I thought was a great success. How do we do all that?

Senator Landy raised the issue of the betting tax and that tax is available at present in this context. The horse and greyhound racing industries received €54 million this year and approximately 47% of that allocation comes from the 1% tax on betting. The loophole in respect of online betting will be closed but we should not leave the betting tax at the level of 1%. Online betting should be included and the percentage should be increased to 2% or 3%. We should let the horse and greyhound racing industries have the €54 million allocated but the differential in the tax yield should be ring-fenced and spent on sport. I listened to what the Minister said and some figures may be contradicted, but the figure cited by Senator Ó Murchú of €1.45 cent being generated in the Irish economy for every euro spent on sport is not Fianna Fail's figure but a figure that was agreed by the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications. Irrespective of what the figures are, if we can reduce obesity and create a healthy society in Ireland, whether in terms of the mental health or the physical well-being of our population, we will reduce the overall health bill for the taxpayer. Irrespective of the economic benefit to the country, that will create a health and well-being benefit for our population. We need to ring-fence that money for sport. I - and, I am sure, all my colleagues in Fianna Fáil - would support the Minister if he fought the fight in that regard. I am currently involved in writing a short paper on the subject. If we increased the betting tax to 2% or 3% and the surplus was spent God knows where, it would be a disserve to sport and to everyone who puts €5 on a Celtic game, a Manchester United game, an athletics event or an any other sporting event apart from horse racing or greyhound racing.

On the GAA issue regarding the broadcasting of the 14 games, I believe the GAA has made the wrong move. It has gone down the wrong road. I am an avid GAA supporter and a member of my local club, but only allowing people-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Senator is way over time.

Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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-----who can afford to pay €64 per month to watch 14 of our national games on television is going down the wrong road.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister to the House. I will start by addressing the issue on which the previous Senator finished. I would agree with him totally regarding gambling and online betting. The vast majority of betting is now done online. We are dragging our heels as regards increasing the revenue we should be getting from that source. I have had reports from a number of people who are worried about gambling and the dangers of online betting. Now people who go into bookies are faced with two or three arcade betting machines, which are illegal, and the Revenue Commissioners are doing nothing about them. They have been creeping in for the last number of months. I have had complaints from quite a number of people that these machines are now being placed in bookies' offices where they should not be. I wonder why the Revenue Commissioners have not moved against the companies that have introduced these machines.

They say a rising tide lifts all boats. Certainly, when our sporting heroes achieve success, be they our county teams in the GAA or our national rugby, soccer or other teams, it raises the spirit of the nation. That does not apply only to those sports but also to all the other sports have been mentioned, including horse racing and athletics. I also include our golfing heroes and especially our boxing heroes - men and women - who have been the most successful team in Olympic sports for Ireland over the last number of Olympics. Success in any sport brings a great sense of pride to our nation. On that note, we have another world champion in walking, Robbie Heffernan, a man who put so much work and effort, like all sportsmen, into the preparation for the success he achieved.

The importance of physical education in our schools is paramount for many reasons, including health, fitness and educational reasons. We should have more joined-up thinking between the Minister's Department, the Department of Health and the Department of Education and Skills. I welcome the move to include the subject of physical education in the new junior certificate but, like the Minister, I hope it can become an exam subject for leaving certificate in the same way as art and music. Why should it not be? There should be a greater emphasis and joined-up thinking between the Department with responsibility for sport and the Department of Education and Skills in that regard.

We talk about all our national teams and our sporting heroes, but I would like to praise the volunteers, be they in soccer or whatever sport, the ones who mark the pitches and the ones who wash the dirty jerseys and so on every week. They are the unsung heroes where sport is concerned. I started my engagement with sport when I was involved mainly in schoolboy soccer. I saw the work that people did in all the areas to help young people to progress. I was delighted to become president of the schoolboys' FAI and the FAI youths during the time of my involvement. I must admit that I am a sports fanatic and that applies to all sports. I point to the importance of the work of the volunteers and of the sports capital programme under which we can give funding, be it even a small amount, to these clubs that are in every corner of the country. It means a great deal to them to be seen to get some support from the Government when they apply for funding. They certainly appreciate it and put it to good use.

The Government is providing a considerable amount of money for sport, with more than €46 million allocated this year. In these trying times it is difficult to find large amounts of money and I commend the Minister for securing the funds. I hope the same amount of money will be forthcoming subsequent to the sale of the national lottery. I understand the same percentage is built into the contract with its new operators. I am old enough to remember when the national lottery was established with the purpose of supporting health and, mainly, sport projects. The money has since been spread across a range of areas, but we should never forget the importance of sport and such activities should receive their fair share from the national lottery.

I commend the Irish Sports Council for the work it has done. It is led by a Waterford man and an Olympic hero, John Treacy. Senators have been demanding a debate on sport for a long time. I am glad that so many women have contributed to the debate because women are giving a lead in many sports. I refer to women like Sonia O'Sullivan, Katie Taylor and the women's Six Nations rugby team who won last year. It should be acknowledged that three or four women Senators have spoken in this debate. We do not hear as many men speaking on so-called women's issues when they are debated in the House. This has been mentioned to me on several occasions.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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What exactly are women's issues?

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I will not let the Minister get me into trouble.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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There are some very sensitive NGOs.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I commend Senator Terry Brennan for proposing the motion on behalf of our group.

Sean Barrett (Independent)
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I had a clash of fixtures this evening as awards are currently being handed out for service to sports. The international rugby referee, Mr. John West, is one of the guests at the awards event and asked me to pass on his regards to the Minister, his former pupil.

There have been many great sporting moments. The highlight of the Queen's successful visit, which the President will reciprocate next week, was her tour of Croke Park. Seán Kelly's success in bringing rugby to Croke Park should also be noted. I was in Enniskillen on the following Wednesday when people expressed appreciation for his efforts. A man with strong Unionist tendencies told me that a man who loaned another the use of a barn while the other's was being repaired was worthy of respect. It was a wonderful way of bringing people together. Another moment that lives in everybody's memory was seeing President McAleese on the podium when Ireland won the grand slam in Cardiff.

TCD Rugby Club is the oldest extant clubs in the world. I hope this will help the Minister in his efforts to have Ireland host the Rugby World Cup. In that regard I note that Hugo McNeill is heading up the committee. In addition to enjoying a terrific rugby career, he scored a couple of goals in the semi-final and final of the Collingwood Cup. We brought him down for a trial with Liam Touhy who was then manager of the TCD team and he was amazed to find a rugby player who could head a ball. That was another magic moment and I wish him and his committee every success. The Northern Ireland Ministers, Arlene Foster and Carál Ní Chuilín, are also involved. This is an extremely valuable aspect of Irish sport. The rugby team brings both communities on the island together, as do other sports, such as hockey and cricket. I hope we will also see an all-Ireland soccer team at some stage in the future. Soccer has not yet achieved that degree of unity between the two communities which since the Good Friday Agreement have agreed to share this island.

The GAA is a unique organisation. I do not think any other organisation in the world has built such a range of community facilities in every town and parish the length and breadth of the island. As Senator Maurice Cummins has noted, volunteers in every sport have done immense work, whether in taking under-tens to matches in overloaded cars or using their kitchens to wash the team's jerseys. It is an important element of brining different generations together. The one thing that removes the generational gap is when younger people begin to discuss sport with their parents and grandparents.

I welcome the great success of Sonia O'Sullivan, Derval O'Rourke and Katie Taylor. As Senator Maurice Cummins has noted, the rise of women athletes is hugely important. I would like to see the women's all-Ireland championship become as popular as the men's. They are heading in that direction.

The Minister referred to the inclusion of sport in the new junior certificate curriculum. I have often thought that we are not making use of a good ally in tackling the problem of high school dropout rates among urban working class males. They may not be interested in many aspects of the curriculum, but they might stay for the football and grow to like the academic subjects. I look forward to seeing how this change works among those who might otherwise drop out of the education system and commend the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, for the initiative.

I commend Senator Terry Brennan for tabling the motion. This is something we do very well. I hope the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, succeeds in bringing the Rugby World Cup to Ireland and the way the GAA is willing to assist with venues is commendable. It would be a fantastic occasion and I wish him every success in his endeavours. I also thank him and the Minister of State at his Department, Deputy Michael Ring, for their services to sport and their enthusiasm which I am sure is reciprocated. Sports people are enthusiastic and like having an enthusiastic Minister and an even more enthusiastic Minister for State.

Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his positive comments and continued support and encouragement. His commitment to and vision for sport are not in doubt. He clearly realises the benefits participation in sport bring for young and old. Reference was made to the Wild Atlantic Way and the benefits it would bring to the west and south west. Perhaps in the future the Minister might extend the Wild Atlantic Way along the east coast to Carlingford Lough.

Sean Barrett (Independent)
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Perhaps through rezoning.

Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)
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Senators Maurice Cummins and Sean D. Barrett referred to the contributions made by volunteers to sports. They are often the forgotten people, but they are involved in more than 60,000 sports clubs of all types. Approximately 500,000 people are involved in such activities and encouraging young people to participate in sport. I recall as a young fellow getting into a car with 14 other passengers to travel to a football match. It probably would not be allowed today. I acknowledge the part played by volunteers. I thank Senators from all parties for the support they have shown in this debate.

It is seldom we get unanimity, so I thank all my colleagues for their support. I welcome the Minister's vision for, and commitment to, sport.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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When is it proposed to sit again?

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Ar 10.30 maidin amárach.