Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the plans he has to adjust his sports policy and funding decisions to reflect the outcome of the ESRI study, Sporting Lives: An Analysis of a Lifetime of Irish Sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24501/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Sports Council (ISC), which is funded by my Department, has statutory responsibility for encouraging the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport and for increasing participation in recreational sport. 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 ISC, under its research remit, is striving to develop a profound understanding of sport in Ireland that can inform policy and investment over the coming years. The ISC has commissioned the Economic and Social Research Institute to undertake studies on its behalf. The fifth report in the series — "Sporting Lives: An Analysis Of A Lifetime Of Irish Sport" which I was pleased to launch recently — sets out to track the participation of Irish people in sport over their life course based on a survey of adult participation in sport in 2003. The data from the survey also allowed for an analysis of the amount and type of sport played in Ireland over recent decades, and of the relationship between playing sport and personal health.

The report concludes that the current generation of Irish adults is playing more sport than previous generations. That is an extremely positive outcome and one with which, collectively, we should be very pleased. Interestingly, the report indicates that 76% of all sport for people over 18 consists of individual activities rather than team based sports. The report also sets out the benefits of participation. The report concludes that people who participate in sport and exercise across the life course generally experience better physical and mental health than non-participants. The report is not without its challenges, particularly in relation to gender and socio-economic gaps in sports participation. Obviously the report needs very careful consideration by the Department and by the Irish Sports Council with a view to assessing what changes might usefully be made to existing sports policy and such consideration is taking place.

I should point out that the series of ESRI reports endorse the view that, as an activity with proven benefits, sport has a strong case for substantial public expenditure to support initiatives which can increase participation in sport. This justifies the significant Government investment in sport in recent years. This increased investment has supported the promotion and development of Irish sport and the provision of a modern sporting infrastructure, with high quality facilities catering for the participation, coaching, training and competition needs of all levels and types of sport. The level of funding available for 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 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 to happen for the benefit of disadvantaged areas. Examples include the Local Sports Partnerships (LSP) network and the Buntús programme for primary schools in LSP areas (involving children in sport from a very young age).

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the community hoops programme and on the application by Basketball Ireland for funding to support this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24566/08]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if there are plans to fund the refurbishment of the National Basketball Arena; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24565/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 80 together.

Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. Under previous rounds of the Sports Capital Programme the community hoops initiative of Basketball Ireland has been allocated over €1,500,000 in funding between 1998 and 2007. The National Basketball Arena has been allocated over €600,000 in funding during the same period. Deputies will be aware that the National Basketball Arena, which became operational in 1993 received €2.29m from the Government at the time of its construction.

Applications for funding under the 2008 programme were invited through advertisements in the Press on 13th and 14th of January and the deadline for receipt of applications was 29th February for paper-based applications and 7th March for on-line applications. All applications received before the deadline, including those referred to by the Deputies, are currently being evaluated against the programme's assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. I intend to announce the grant allocations for the programme as soon as possible after the assessment process has been completed.