John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 395: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if funding will be allocated for Community Games; when funding will be granted in order that a suitable venue will be provided (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19501/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Following a series of meetings last year with representatives of the National Community Games to discuss issues with regard to the hosting of the annual community games finals in Mosney, I approved funding of funding of €100,000 towards the renovation of the accommodation at the Mosney holiday centre specifically to ensure that the facilities are of a comfortable standard for use by the community games participants. In the context of those discussions, the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, confirmed its continued willingness to facilitate the availability of Mosney to host the community games. Community games representatives have expressed their satisfaction with the range and quality of the facilities and services available at Mosney and their suitability for future national events. They also acknowledged that no other venue in Ireland has the scale and variety of facilities required for their national events as currently structured and that any question of providing a special dedicated venue on the scale required which would be used only a few times a year would be unrealistic. I am pleased that the RIA has confirmed that for as long as the agency continues to use Mosney, the community games can avail of the facilities there. A new contract was signed between Mosney Irish Holidays Limited and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on 18 November 2004.