Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his proposals for the use of the site in Abbotstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35070/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the cost to date in 2005 associated with Campus Stadium Ireland; his plans for its future development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35071/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together.

The House will recall that the Government decided in 2004 to proceed, as financial resources permit, with the development of a campus of sports facilities at Abbotstown. Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited, CSID, undertook an in-depth preparatory process, which included engaging with the major governing bodies of sport and stakeholders, and drew up proposals for the development of the sports campus in a series of phases. Phase one of the development control plan proposes the development of pitches and ancillary accommodation catering mainly for rugby, soccer and Gaelic games, the sports which engage the greatest number of people in Ireland. In addition, an indoor sports centre is planned to cater for a range of indoor sports, with spectator accommodation and publicly accessible all weather floodlit synthetic pitches also included.

The Government had an initial discussion on the proposal last September and requested that further analysis be carried out by the Office of Public Works in connection with the delivery of the project. I have now reported to my Cabinet colleagues on the outcome of this additional analysis which will be factored into consideration of my Department's capital envelope for 2006-2010 to be published on budget day. I am hopeful that there will be a positive outcome and, in that eventuality, it would be my intention to establish a statutory agency to oversee the Abbotstown project.

I am very conscious of the need to have top class sport facilities in place in good time to create opportunities which would promote Ireland as a location for foreign teams wishing to avail of training for the London Olympic Games in 2012. There have been no capital costs incurred on the project to date in 2005.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has placed adequate emphasis on the development and promotion of the various sporting disciplines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35072/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's budget for sport this year is over €149 million, as compared with an amount of just €17.4 million in 1997. The Government has spent over €700 million on sport since 1997. This hugely increased investment in sport has resulted in a considerably enhanced range and quality of programmes and top class facilities from national level to local community clubs and centres throughout the country. We are already beginning to see the benefits of this phenomenal increase in new investment in sport and we will continue to reap the benefits as time goes on.

The Government's support for sport has not just been a matter of simply making more money available. Improvements have had to be made in a strategic way. The establishment in 1999 of the National Sports Council as the statutory body with responsibility for the organisation and development of sport was a vital leap forward in this regard. This Government is committed to providing the necessary infrastructure on which the Sports Council's strategy based on the three pillars of participation, performance and excellence can be delivered.

The budget for the Irish Sports Council has increased from €13.2 million in 2000, its first full year of operation, to €34.4 million in 2005 and in all the council has received since its inception almost €158 million. This level of funding is enabling the council to support a wide range of programmes and initiatives aimed at increasing the involvement of people of all ages in the complete spectrum of sports and promoting social cohesion and enhanced community involvement in all aspects of sport. Additional funding for the council in 2005 included €1.5 million for an initiative being taken to preserve and develop the games of hurling and camogie on a nationwide basis, €1 million to support initiatives aimed at the development of Gaelic games in Dublin and €750,000 to commence programmes which attract women into sport.

The sports capital grant scheme operated by my Department has a major impact on the delivery of all sporting disciplines in every corner of the country, providing the facilities that allow programmes and activities take place that will bring and keep young people in sport. This programme has, since 1998, allocated funding of over €385 million to some 4,900 projects to provide badly need facilities and equipment in virtually every parish, village, town and city, ranging from community centres and facilities for small local clubs in every sport to national sports centres.

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 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 continually assessing 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. One of the first challenges facing the group is to oversee the commencement of a national audit of sports facilities which 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.