Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 285: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will amend the sports capital programme to ensure that it supports the increased participation of persons who are currently not active in sport; his views on whether the funding for the sports capital programme is regressive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17681/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations. It is the main vehicle for development of sports facilities at local, regional and national level throughout the country.

The Programme aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to developing sports and physical recreation facilities throughout the country. In particular, its objectives are to:

assist voluntary and community organisations to develop high quality, safe, well-designed and sustainable facilities in appropriate locations to help maximise participation in sport and physical recreation;

prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of sports facilities;

encourage the multi-purpose use of local, regional and national sports facilities by clubs, community organisations and national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport.

Since 1998 the Programme has allocated over €675 million to over 6,700 projects. This investment has transformed the sporting landscape of Ireland and has allowed the development of sports facilities across the length and breath of the country. These facilities have dramatically increased the opportunities for all people to engage in a wide variety of sports. The level of funding available for spending on sport in 2008 is €336 million, which will serve to further enhance and develop the sports sector. Furthermore the National Development Plan 2007-2013 includes a commitment to provide €991 million for sport infrastructure during the period up to 2013.

The Irish Sports Council (ISC), which is funded by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, has a statutory role in encouraging the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport and 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. All sports organisations funded by the ISC, including National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs), are encouraged to target all sections of society in seeking to increase participation in sport. The increased funding provided to the ISC from €13 million in 2000 to more than €57 million this year has enabled a number of significant interventions for the benefit of all groups, including those not traditionally involved in sport.