Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he is satisfied regarding the degree to which indoor and outdoor sporting and recreational facilitates have received funding from his Department; if he proposes any changes in the future with particular reference to the need to meet requirements of developing communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35063/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The national lottery funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, provides funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country towards the provision of sport and recreational facilities.

Since 1998, over €385 million has been allocated under the sports capital programme to some 4,900 projects in villages, towns and parishes throughout the country. In that period, the annual allocation increased by nearly 720% from just over €7.5 million in 1998 to almost €54.4 million in 2005. Of that allocation in 2005, a total of over €11.4 million was for projects classified as community-mixed, which would include recreational facilities provided in community centres and community based facilities and projects where more than one sport or recreational activity was available.

The local authority swimming pool programme, which is also administered by my Department, provides grant aid towards the capital costs of a new pool swimming pool, a replacement pool or the refurbishment of an existing pool. The programme provides for a maximum grant level of 80% of eligible costs — 90% in the case of disadvantaged areas — subject to a maximum of €3.8 million. The current round of the pool programme was closed to applications on 31 July 2000 and the priority in respect of the programme is to support the 55 projects that applied for funding prior to the closing date. Since 2000, just over €70 million has been allocated towards the cost of pool projects.

My Department is carrying out an expenditure review of the programme, which is examining, among other things, how it has worked to date, the benefits that have accrued to the areas where pools have been built under the programme and what amendments, if any, are required to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the programme. On completion of this review, the question of reopening the programme will be considered. Given the significant increase in investment I have outlined above, it is clear that there has been a considerable improvement in the level of sport and recreational facilities being provided all over the country.

However, my Department continually assesses the economic and social potential of sport and has recently established an inter-agency steering group to oversee the development of a sports facilities strategy. The group comprises representatives from my Department along with officials from the Departments of Education and Science, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Finance in addition to representatives of the Irish Sports Council, Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited and the County and City Managers' Association.

One of the first challenges facing the group is to oversee the commencement of a national audit of sports facilities that will help define the level of need that still exists in the sports sector and in helping to determine future priorities. While work has only just commenced on the development of the strategy, the final report is likely to include recommendations on a whole range of issues, including improved co-ordination and integration of funding among the various Departments and bodies to ensure effective planning for sports facilities in the future.