Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the level of investment in sport over the past ten years; the sporting facilities that have been provided; the benefit to communities and sportsmen and sportswomen here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11824/07]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The last ten years have seen a dramatic increase in Government funding for Irish sport, from €17 million in 1997 to over €295 million in 2007. By the end of 2006, the Government had invested over €900 million directly into sport since 1997, to support the promotion and development of Irish sport and the provision of a modern sporting infrastructure with high quality facilities catering for the participation, coaching, training and competition needs of all levels and types of sport. This amount included expenditure under the Sports Capital Programme and the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme; funding allocated to the Irish Sports Council, Horse Racing Ireland and Bord na gCon; and spending on the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road, Croke Park and the development of a sports campus at Abbotstown.

Sports funding, mainly through the National Lottery-funded sport capital programme administered by my Department, has been enormously beneficial to clubs, sports organisations and voluntary and community groups in virtually every village, parish and town throughout the country. In the past ten years, a total of over €494.8 million has been allocated in sports capital funding to 6,296 projects in villages, towns and parishes throughout the country, with special attention being given to facilities in areas of social and economic disadvantage.

The projects funded include the provision and development of facilities such as natural playing surfaces, synthetic and all-weather playing surfaces, changing facilities, floodlighting, indoor sports halls, and a vast range of sports equipment. While the majority of the funding has been to local clubs and organisations, it has also catered for the development of sporting infrastructure at regional and national level, thereby increasing the general participation in sport while also enhancing the level of coaching and competitiveness. Significant national sporting centres funded include those for the sports of Rowing, Hockey, Boxing and Tennis.

Grant aid under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme from 1997 to end February 2007 amounts to €93,677,542. The provision of sufficient public swimming pools throughout the country, catering for both current and potential demand, is essential to broader societal goals for healthy adult lifestyles and the promotion of all aspects of children's development.

The Irish Sports Council, the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, has received funding totalling €204.6 million since it was established in 1999 up to the end of 2006. The Sports Council's funding allocation for 2007 stands at over €54 million. This money has been spent on initiating, developing and enhancing a wide range of programmes aimed at increasing participation and raising standards in Irish sport, including direct support in terms of grant-aid and indirect support in terms of sport science and medical backup to elite and top aspiring athletes. An Irish Institute of Sport has also been established to deliver optimal support services for Olympic and Paralympic athletes and sports.

Government support for the horse and greyhound racing industries is provided under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, as approved by the Oireachtas. Under the provisions of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, the Fund receives a guaranteed level of finance based on the excise duty on off-course betting. Since 2001, this Fund has provided a guaranteed level of funding to Horse Racing Ireland and Bord na gCon, which, by the end of 2006, amounted to €317 million and €79 million respectively. In 2007, the horse and greyhound racing industries will receive over €58 million and €14 million respectively from the Fund. This commitment to funding has enabled Horse Racing Ireland and Bord na gCon to undertake a programme of capital investment that has underpinned a growth in the sectors.

Government funding to Croke Park amounts to approximately €114 million. This includes an allocation of €3.65m at the end of 2006 towards the installation of floodlights, which has further enhanced what can now be regarded as a world-class stadium. This 82,300-capacity modern facility, fully equipped to cater for hurling, football and camogie matches, is a fitting platform for players, both male and female, to display their talents. The stadium has also been the venue for Ireland's International Rules matches against Australia, has hosted the ceremonies for the Special Olympics held here in Ireland in 2003 and accommodated recent rugby and soccer internationals in Croke Park, an arrangement which will continue this year and next.

In January 2004, the Government agreed to provide funding of €191 million towards the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road Stadium as a 50,000-capacity all-seater state-of-the-art facility. Expenditure to date amounts to almost €23 million. The recent decision by An Bord Pleanála has now cleared the way for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road to commence. The new stadium will meet the needs of the modern games of rugby and soccer while also providing a platform to showcase the talent of our international teams to the world, allowing them to build on the progress that they have made to date.

The Government is committed to the development of a campus of sports facilities at Abbotstown, which can be seen as a real and tangible symbol of Ireland's determination to compete on the international stage by ensuring that our sports men and women have at their disposal cutting edge sporting facilities. The National Aquatic Centre, which opened in 2003, was the first facility developed at the Sports Campus at Abbotstown. The capital expenditure on the Centre was almost €71 million and the Centre was completed on time and within budget.

The Government has provided an amount of €149 million under the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013 for the development of the Abbotstown Campus. This comprises €119 million to fund Phase One of the Campus project and €30 million, committed at this stage, towards the development of further facilities in the next phase of development.

The facilities to be provided in Phase One of the project will include: a National Field Sports training centre, catering for rugby, soccer, Gaelic games and hockey; a National Indoor Training Centre which will provide world class training facilities for over 30 Governing Bodies of Sport; accommodation for sports men and women; sports science/medical facilities; all-weather synthetic pitches for community use; and renovation of existing buildings to cater for needs identified by sports bodies.

This unprecedented level of investment in sport is clear evidence of the importance that the Government attaches to establishing modern, well-equipped and well-managed sporting facilities supported by a wide range of programmes that are significantly benefiting our communities.