Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the function of sports inclusion development officers; the numbers employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24577/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Through my Department special funding of €2.3 million, over a two-year period, was allocated from the dormant accounts funds to provide opportunities for persons with a disability to participate in sport and physical activity by way of the appointment of 20 Sports Inclusion Development Officers in Local Sports Partnerships. The Deputy will be aware that a network of Local Sports Partnerships has been set up throughout the country by the Irish Sports Council to coordinate and promote sport at local level.

Specifically the Sports Inclusion Development Officers are charged with promoting participation by people with a disability in sport and physical activity and with ensuring local resources are being used to maximum potential. My colleague the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has overall responsibility for dormant accounts spending. The funding through my Department is an element of a larger set of economic and social disadvantage funding measures including funding for persons with a disability.