Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if local sports partnerships will be extended to all counties in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15355/04]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of local sports partnerships that have been set up to date; the funding provided for same; the plans for additional set-ups in the coming 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15345/04]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 42 together.

The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness committed the Government to the introduction of local sport partnerships to help promote and develop sport at local level. In its first strategy document, A New Era for Irish Sport (2000-2002), the Sports Council included the establishment of local sports partnerships as one of its main priorities.

The Irish Sports Council, following the receipt of proposals from local bodies, approved and funded the establishment of eight partnerships in May 2001 and a further four were established in early 2002. These are located in Clare, Donegal, Fingal, Kildare, Laois, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary north, Cork, Limerick, Meath and Waterford.

At my Department's request the Sports Council commissioned a review of the operation of four of the original eight partnerships. Following the completion and consideration of this review I gave approval in 2003 to the Irish Sports Council to extend the network of local sports partnerships by a further four, bringing the total number of LSPs to 16. These four partnerships are now being established and are located in Kerry, Westmeath, Kilkenny and Mayo. In 2004, €2.3 million has been allocated to the LSPs to cover the 12 existing and four newly established sites. Since 2001 a total of almost €6.7 million has been allocated to the LSPs by the Irish Sports Council. The annual budget for the Irish Sports Council has increased from just over €13 million in 2000, the first full year of its operation, to €30.75 million in 2004.

An independent appraisal and review of the entire local partnership process will be carried out by my Department later this year to obtain confirmation that this element of sport policy continues to have an impact at local level. The question of extending the partnerships to further areas will be considered in the light of the outcome of that appraisal.