Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason for the delay in the national audit of sports facilities which was originally promised in the programme for Government 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8528/09]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if a national audit of sports facilities has been completed by his Department as recommended in the last sports capital programme expenditure review; the findings of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8580/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 76 together.

The nationwide audit of sports facilities is being carried out in stages to help speed up the availability of information. Phase one, which focuses on national and regional sports facilities, has now been completed within my Department. Phase two of the audit, which is a more complex undertaking to establish a record of existing sports facilities at local level and identifying the need for future provision, commenced in 2008 with the assistance of Local Authorities. Already, my Department has received completed returns from 16 Local Authorities.

The audit is part of a wider exercise to put in place a more strategic approach to the provision of sports facilities in Ireland. My Department is currently finalising a five-year strategic plan to inform the future development of necessary sporting facilities throughout the country. The aim of the strategy is to provide high-level policy direction for future investment and grant assistance at national, regional and local level. The strategy also identifies the wider economic, health and social case for continued investment in sports facilities. It aims to prioritise areas for future investment and to ensure continued impact in the relevant areas.