Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the nationwide audit of sports facilities will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19303/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The nationwide audit of sports facilities has commenced and is being carried out in stages to help speed up the availability of information. Phase One is being carried out within my Department and will establish a record of national and regional sports facilities. The audit is part of a wider exercise to put in place a more strategic approach to the provision of sports facilities in Ireland. This National Sports Facility Strategy will aim to: increase opportunities among people of all ages to participate in sport; increase rates of participation in sport among people of all ages; and improve performance levels through access to appropriate facilities.

A key objective in relation to the preparation of the National Sports Facility Strategy is to ensure consistency "on a nationwide basis" in relation to the completion of the audit facility so that inter-regional planning can be undertaken. With this in mind, the preparation of a guidance pack and survey/audit toolkit for use by Local Authorities and / or Local Sports Partnerships to assist them in carrying out local audit has been prioritised as part of the Sports Facility Strategy. This element of the strategy will greatly help in the completion of the audit.