Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the way he will fund a programme (details supplied) in County Laois beyond 2009, for the ongoing implementation of the sports inclusion disability officer programme of the national network of local sports partnerships, in view of the impact on the health and well being of a number of persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42902/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Special funding of €2.5 million was allocated from the dormant accounts fund for the appointment of 20 Sports Inclusion Development Officers (SIDOs) in Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) in 2008. The SIDOs were appointed on two-year contracts to provide opportunities for persons with a disability to participate in sport and physical activity.

A network of 33 LSPs have been set up throughout the country by the Irish Sports Council (ISC) to coordinate and promote sport at local level especially amongst specific target groups such as older people, girls and women, people with disabilities, unemployed people, and those who live in identified disadvantaged communities. The special dormant accounts funding was in addition to the annual funding provided to the LSPs by the ISC for programmes and initiatives aimed at increasing participation in recreational sport. The ISC has allocated €6 million to the LSPs in 2009. The continuation of the SIDO scheme from 2010 will be dependent on the outcome of the 2010 Estimates deliberations.