John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the extent to which he expects to assist the promotion of sports in all primary and secondary schools and colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39768/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Sports Council (ISC), which is funded by my Department, has a statutory role in encouraging the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport.

The Irish Sports Council Act, 1999 specifically states that the ISC has responsibility for developing "strategies for increasing participation in recreational sport and to coordinate their implementation by all bodies (including public authorities and publicly funded bodies) involved in promoting recreational sport and providing recreational facilities". According to the ISC's strategy "Building Sport for Life" the ISC's mission is "To plan, lead and coordinate the sustainable development of competitive and recreational sport in Ireland". In that context, the ISC runs many programmes to promote recreational sport, including the promotion of sport in schools.