Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 307: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made to ensure that Ireland improves its performance at the summer 2008 Olympics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19423/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The amount of funding available for spending on sport in 2008 is €336 million which demonstrates a clear and substantial commitment to investment in sport by this Government. In 2008 my Department has allocated €57.631 million to the Irish Sports Council, an increase since the last Olympic year of €26.9 million, or 87%. One of the ISC's primary functions is to encourage the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport and the achievement of excellence in competitive sport. In this regard the ISC works in partnership with the Irish Institute of Sport, the Olympic Council of Ireland, the Paralympic Council of Ireland and the relevant governing bodies of sport in the preparation of Irish athletes for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Significant progress has been made to date by all the agencies in preparation for the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Olympic and Paralympic Councils of Ireland are the agencies responsible for the organisation and participation of the Irish teams at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Irish Sports Council provides annual funding to both Councils for administration and programme costs aimed specifically at preparation for the Games. The OCI and PCI have responsibility for a number of areas including:

(i) team selection (following nominations from governing bodies of athletes that have reached qualification standards);

(ii) selection of support personnel;

(iii) team manager training programmes;

(iv) preparation visits to Beijing by key personnel;

(v) heat and acclimatisation strategy;

(vi) the organisation of multi-sport camps in advance of the Games;

(vii) all logistics at Games time and

(viii) liaison with the organising committee and the International Olympic Committee.

Primary responsibility for the preparation and performance of individual athletes rests with the relevant National Governing Body or, in the case of Paralympic sports, the Paralympic Council of Ireland.

Planning has been comprehensive and well funded, with plans implemented by top quality professionals at every step. The ISC has defined success as meeting its target of six finalists at the Olympics. This target is still in place and I hope it will be achieved. In February 2008, the ISC announced the allocation of €9 million in High Performance Support. 15 focus sports received over €5.9 million for their high performance plans, athletes and teams received over €2.2 million under the International Carding Scheme and the Institute of Irish Sport received €935,000. This brought the total to €30.06 million invested in this Olympic and Paralympic cycle.