Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 379: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the measures introduced by his Department to promote cycling as a healthy form of exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41311/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Irish Sports Council (ISC) was set up as a statutory body in July 1999 with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards. The Sports Council provides funding to recognised National Governing Bodies (NGBs), including Cycling Ireland. NGBs are dealt with as autonomous organisations and grants are allocated under agreed funding conditions and with specific priorities in mind. Since 1999, Cycling Ireland has received over €3.5 million in funding from the Irish Sports Council, with grants of €614,400 in 2006.

Since 1998, the sport of cycling has also received €919,705 in funding for 31 projects under the national lottery-funded Sports Capital Programme administered by my Department. In 2006, under this programme, the allocation of €316,600 included €80,000 to the Cycling Ireland Mountain Bike Commission and €111,600 to Cycling Ireland for the provision of high-performance sports equipment for elite athletes.

Cycling Ireland recently published its Strategic Development Plan, which outlines its goals for the period 2005-2009 for cycling as to:

grow significantly in membership, resources and influence

become a high profile lifetime leisure activity in Ireland

reach and sustain new levels of international competitive success

be an effective organisation catering for all aspects of cycling.

The organisation now has a Leisure and Tourism Commission, which deals with the promotion of cycling as a healthy activity, and it has supported a range of leisure initiatives in recent years including various charity cycle events. A Women's Commission has also been established to encourage more females into the sport, particularly in relation to disciplines such as mountain biking. Cycling Ireland is working with the Irish Sports Council in developing a National Trails Strategy to encourage people to utilise our natural resources for undertaking active pursuits, such as mountain biking, in their leisure time.