Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of people directly and indirectly employed in the sporting sector of the Irish economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5872/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the value of the sporting sector to the economy annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5875/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of voluntary staff who work in sporting organisations here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5878/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 126, 128 and 131 together.

The Deputy will be aware that I have no direct responsibility regarding the compilation of employment statistics. I am, however, informed by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) that the information requested by the Deputy is not available. The CSO has informed me that, while it compiles extensive statistics on employment, sectoral data are compiled using the NACE classification, which is the standard EU classification for economic activity and, that due to the fragmented and diverse nature of Sports, it is not identified as a sector within the classification. The Deputy will also be aware that the Irish Sports Council (ISC) was established on a statutory basis on 1 July 1999 with responsibility for the promotion and development of sport.

Under Section 6 of the Irish Sports Council Act 1999, the functions of the Council include (i) Section 6(1)(e) "where the Council considers it appropriate to do so, to initiate and encourage research concerning either or both competitive sport and recreational sport" and (ii) Section 6(1)(f) "where the Council considers it appropriate to do so, to facilitate research and disseminate information concerning either or both competitive sport and recreational sport". In that regard, in 2003 the ISC commissioned the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) to undertake studies on its behalf. The second report in the series entitled "Social and Economic Value of Sport in Ireland" was published in 2005. In this report, it was estimated that the number of volunteers involved in sport in 2003 was in the region of 400,000 persons.

Also in that report it was estimated that the following four areas of activity (i) volunteers, (ii) membership subscriptions to sports clubs, (iii) attendance at sports events and (iv) spending on sports equipment, sports clothing and related costs of playing sport, generated approximately €1.4 billion per annum. The report also suggested that further additions, such as tourism, government spending and horse and greyhound racing, increased that estimate to €1.86 billion per annum.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of people directly and indirectly employed in the arts and cultural sector of the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5874/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the value of the arts and cultural sector to the economy annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5877/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 130 together.

At present there is no definitive measure of the number of people directly and indirectly employed in the arts and cultural sector of the economy. The Central Statistics Office does not currently publish figures specifically for the arts and cultural sector and I intend to pursue this issue with the CSO. In the meantime, I am considering conducting a research exercise to establish the number of people employed in the sectors and the economic impact of the arts and culture sector.