Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the success of the sports inclusion disability officer programme in increasing the participation of persons with disabilities in sports and physical activity; and if that funding will remain in place for the continuation and expansion of the programme. [46471/09]

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 continued funding of the SIDO scheme is a matter for the ISC in the context of the distribution of its budget for 2010, supplemented by a provision of €395,000 in the Vote of the Department, and the Council's priorities within its ongoing funding of the LSP network. The priority is to build on the significant progress by the Council in achieving its statutory objectives of increasing participation in recreational sport and improving high performance levels.