Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has met with members of the Irish Sports Council to discuss their recently launched building sport for life three-year strategic plan; his views on whether more work needs to be done to promote participation in sport among the adult population; the efforts he is making in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34807/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Under Section 25 of the Irish Sports Council Act 1999, which established the Council as the statutory body responsible for the promotion and development of sport in Ireland, the Council is required to prepare and present to me a three-year strategy statement for the period 2006-2008. I was happy to approve and, subsequently, launch the Council's three-year strategy "Building Sport for Life" on 28th September 2006. Both my officials and I regularly meet with representatives of the Council to review implementation of Sport Policy and discuss relevant issues including the recently published strategy.

Under "Building Sport for Life", the Council will focus its efforts on increasing the number of people participating in sport and physical activity.

The following are the stated objectives of the strategy, which the Council will measure to determine the success of its work over the next three years:

Increase the number of people participating in sport in partnership with governing bodies of sport, sports partnerships and other relevant agencies. The target is to increase adult participation rates by 1.5% over the life of the strategy. This increase will be sub-divided as follows- a reduction of 1.5% in the number of totally inactive adults and an increase of 1.5% in the number of adults meeting the recommended minimum level of health-enhancing physical activity (30 minutes per day x 5 weekly)

Increase by 3% in the number of children taking part in some level of extra curricular sport and extra school sport combined

The Local Sports Partnerships are charged with increasing participation and ensuring that the experiences in sport are positive.

The Irish Sports Council has created a new Participation Unit to implement its plans for increasing participation. The Unit will ensure the national rollout of the Local Sports Partnerships network in order to deliver greater access to sport for all. It will work with specific national governing bodies to deliver large-scale participation programmes. The Unit will target sections of the community for intervention programmes such as the existing Women in Sport and Sport for Older People initiatives.

The Council will facilitate the creation of a sustainable structure to ensure the strategic development of sport by providing resources to National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships who are charged with providing evidence across a range of sports. It will strengthen its relationship with the National Coaching and Training Centre in order to encourage governing bodies and sports partnerships to develop coaching infrastructures nationally and locally.

The Irish Sports Council has made a significant contribution to Irish sport since it was established in 1999. The list of its accomplishments is long and I am confident that the Council's new strategy will be fully realised and mark another major advance for the administration and development of sport in Ireland.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on whether the absence of a proper indoor running facility here is hampering the chances of elite Irish athletes in their preparations for international competition; his further views on providing State funding for the construction of such a facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34820/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Since 1998 this Government has provided over €900 million towards the development of new sporting infrastructure and sports programmes. Included in this figure is an amount of €469.8m in sports capital funding which has been allocated to 5,721 projects throughout the country which is now having a major impact on the range and quality of sports facilities. Almost €11m has been provided for the development of athletic specific facilities while additional funding has been provided towards multi-purpose facilities of which athletics would be one of the sports practised at the facility. Furthermore, the Deputy will be aware that the Government has provided funding for the development of a sports campus at Abbotstown and an Irish Institute of Sport. Both of these initiatives will, when completed, enhance further the range and quality of sports facilities and support for Irish athletes.

Discussions have taken place with the Athletics Association of Ireland in relation to the need for an indoor training facility and that organisation is currently embarked on the development of a strategy for such facilities which, when received, will be considered for funding. I am satisfied that there now exists a network of athletic facilities throughout the country which afford opportunities for those interested in the sport to engage in the sport. Research conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute by the Irish Sports Council has ascertained that the lack of facilities is not a serious impediment to persons involving themselves in sport.