Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the funds and grants which are available from his Department or agencies responsible thereto to support initiatives to combat anti-social behaviour; the details of such funding, including the amounts expended in 2004 and the amount available in 2005. [4377/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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It is widely agreed that sport can make an important contribution to reducing anti-social behaviour. A number of initiatives and programmes are funded out of the annual provision for sport in the Estimates for my Department which in 2005 amount to €131 million.

The sports capital programme, administered by my Department, provides funding towards the development of sports facilities with a particular emphasis on projects aimed at increasing participation in sport in disadvantaged areas. The local authority swimming pool programme which is also administered by my Department provides grants towards the refurbishment of existing or development of new public pools.

One of the strategic objectives of the Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department as the statutory agency for sport in Ireland, is to increase sporting opportunities for all and particularly for school aged children and disadvantaged groups. Many of its programmes, such as the youth field sports programme operated in conjunction with the GAA, the IRFU and the FAI and Buntús initiatives operated through the primary schools, are aimed directly at encouraging young people to engage in sport. The budget of the Irish Sports Council for 2005 is €34 million.