Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the role his Department plays in encouraging sport in the education cycle, in particular to ensure children who are considered socially disadvantaged are involved in sports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10849/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will appreciate that I have no official responsibility to the Dáil in relation to the education cycle, the school curriculum or sport in schools, which are matters for the Minister for Education and Science. I would however point out that the Irish Sports Council (ISC), which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body responsible for encouraging the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport and for increasing participation in recreational sport. In 2008, my Department has allocated over €57 million to the Council. This significant level of funding has enabled a number of important interventions for the benefit of people residing in disadvantaged areas. Examples include the Local Sports Partnerships (LSP) network and the Buntús programme for primary schools in LSP areas.

The Buntús Programme is continuing to be rolled out by the ISC through the LSP network to primary schools and child day care centres and feedback through the LSP network for the programme has been extremely positive. The Programme aims to support the primary Physical Education curriculum by providing equipment, resource cards and training to primary school teachers and allows teachers and introductory level coaches to introduce sport to children in a safe and fun way. I am aware that the Irish Sports Council has also worked with the FAI, IRFU, Badminton Ireland, Junior Golf Ireland and Basketball Ireland to deliver Buntús Sports Specific Programmes to Primary and Special Needs Schools in the Local Sports Partnership areas.

In addition, one of the stated aims and objectives of the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department, is to prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of facilities. Projects identified as being located in areas designated as disadvantaged are targeted and prioritised in a number of ways during the assessment of applications. Indeed, under the 2008 Sports Capital Programme, I reduced the level of own funding required by applicants from RAPID and Local Drugs Task Force areas to 10% from 20%. This is in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government.

Successful projects under the Sports Capital Programme in CLÁR and RAPID areas may also qualify to receive top-up funding, payable by the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. In the case of projects located in CLÁR areas, this top-up funding can be up to 20% of the sports capital grant amount; in the case of projects located in RAPID areas which are also endorsed by their local Area Implementation Team, the top-up funding can be up to 30%. Under the Sports Capital Programme, schools are eligible to apply for funding for the development of sports facilities as part of a joint application with local sporting organisations. In this regard, these joint applications must include evidence of a formal agreement with a local sporting organisation that guarantees them access to school facilities for at least 30 hours per week throughout the year.

Furthermore, in 2007 funding of over almost €2 million was allocated from the dormant accounts funds through my Department for projects to increase participation in sports and recreation in disadvantaged areas. This funding was distributed through the LSPs and Local Authorities (where no LSP existed) whose knowledge and expertise were called upon in identifying worthy projects throughout the country. In the context of the development of a strategy for sports facilities a steering group, which is supporting my Department in its work, has a representative of the Department of Education and Science in its membership. Among the issues which will be considered by this group is how best to allocate public funds for sports facilities which serve the dual purpose of school and community usage.