Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 577: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the assistance being given to the Irish Hockey Association in its promotion of the sport here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15127/07]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 578: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if there are funds available in his Department towards hockey coaching; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15128/07]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 577 and 578 together.

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 the Irish Hockey Association. NGBs are dealt with as autonomous organisations and grants are allocated under agreed funding conditions and with specific priorities in mind. The grant allocation process is run on an annual basis by the Sports Council, with NGBs submitting an application form covering their programmes for the coming year.

Since 1999, the Irish Hockey Association has received €3,954,229 in funding from the ISC, with grants of €1,115,059 to date in 2007. This includes funding for core activities which covers administration, employment of professional staff, coach development and assorted development activities. For certain sports it may also include hosting events and programmes aimed at increasing participation. The grants to the Irish Hockey Association also include funding for programmes under the Women in Sport initiative, high performance and the International Carding Scheme, which provides direct support in terms of grant-aid and indirect support in terms of sport science and medical backup to elite and top aspiring athletes.

The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. A total of €4.42 million has been allocated to hockey projects in sports capital funding since 1998, including €825,000 allocated under the 2007 sports capital programme, which I announced on April 5 last. The majority of the sports capital funding was to individual clubs towards the development of their playing and training facilities. However, a total of €1.29 million was also allocated to the Irish Hockey Association towards the development of its national stadium at Belfield and €223,800 to that national governing body of sport towards the provision of hockey equipment to be distributed to its clubs, high performance players and to schools in assisting the promotion and playing of the sport.