Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will make a submission to the next round of the National Drugs Strategy to highlight the vital role youth participation in sport and the arts can have as a deterrent on youth substance abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17671/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am well aware of the positive role which participation in sport and the arts can have on young people, including in drugs prevention. Such participation has a positive impact on character formation and development and acts as an antidote to social misbehaviour.

The Irish Sports Council (ISC), which is funded by the Department, has a statutory role in increasing participation in recreational sport. The ISC's basic philosophy is, therefore, one of inclusion and its Statement of Strategy recognises the potential of sport to be a driver for social change dealing with issues such as exclusion and social inequality.

The increased funding provided to the ISC, from €13 million in 2000 to more than €57 million in 2008, has enabled a number of significant interventions for the benefit of children and young people. Examples include the Local Sports Partnership (LSP) network, the Buntús programmes for pre-schools and primary schools in LSP areas (involving children in sport from a very young age) and the Youth Field Sports Initiative.

In particular relation to young people and sport, the ISC, through the LSPs, continues to roll out the Buntús programme in primary schools and child day care centres. The Programme aims to support the primary PE curriculum by providing equipment, resource cards and training to primary school teachers and childcare workers and allows them introduce sport to children in a safe and fun way. In addition, there are five sport specific Buntús programmes currently available to primary schools: soccer, rugby, golf, basketball and badminton.

Furthermore, with the support and cooperation of the Department and Pobal, additional funding has been allocated to the ISC to support various grant schemes including the funding programme "Sports for Disadvantaged Youth". This programme, with funding amounting to almost €2 million, is administered by the ISC and delivered through the existing LSP structures and local authorities where an LSP is not yet in place. Its aim is to increase participation in sport among 12-19 year olds in disadvantaged areas.

Funding is also made available, under the Youth Field Sports Initiative, by the ISC to increase participation among young people in the three main field sports: Gaelic games, rugby and soccer. Separate funding allocations are made to the GAA, IRFU and FAI in this regard.

Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by the Department, sports projects that are located in and endorsed by the Local Drugs Task Force are prioritised in a number of ways during the assessment of applications.

These applicants are permitted to have a lower level of minimum own funding available (10% as against the normal 30%) towards their project, and extra marks are also awarded to such projects during the assessment process under the level of socio-economic disadvantage criterion.

Last year, €12.78 million was provisionally allocated to projects based in Local Drugs Task Force areas under the Sports Capital Programme.

In relation to the arts, my policy is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts and make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life.

Responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is primarily devolved to the Arts Council. The general functions of the Council include stimulating public interest in the arts, promoting knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts and assisting in improving standards in the arts.

The underpinning rationale for Arts Council policy in relation to young people extends to considering the specific needs of children and young people, as part of a contemporary and future public, so as to ensure their entitlement to access and respond to high quality artistic and aesthetic experiences.

I look forward to the opportunity to put forward the observations of the Department as part of the review of the National Drugs Strategy.