Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport her views on sports sponsorship by the alcohol industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20699/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Unprecedented levels of Government funding for sport over the last number of years reflect the huge social and economic benefits of sport. As result of investments by the Department in sporting facilities in the last 10 years through the Sports Capital Programme and the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, people now have more opportunities to play and compete in a vast array of sports more than ever before. There is now an enhanced range of top class sports facilities throughout the country at national, regional and local level.

In the current economic conditions it is crucial that we continue to recognise the importance of investment in sport for the social and economic development of the country. Given the wide benefits associated with participation in sporting activities continued targeted investment to maximise the benefits that arise in the areas of health and well-being, social and cultural development, education, personal development, tourism and the economy is vital.

Sponsorship has allowed sporting bodies to invest in developing their games throughout the country and any constraints placed on sporting organisations in the current economic climate could have very serious implications for their operations and sports participation in general. Sporting bodies and the alcohol industry bear a responsibility to ensure that such sponsorships are developed and managed in a prudent and caring manner to protect the well being of young people.

My colleague, the Minister for Health & Children established a Working Group chaired by the Chief Medical Officer to deliver on the commitment in the Programme for Government to "Discuss the question of the sponsorship of sporting events by the alcohol industry with a view to phasing it out". My Department was represented on this Group. The Group's report has been completed and will be submitted to the Minister for Health & Children shortly. I understand that it is the Minister's intention to publish this report, which will be an important input to the ongoing discussion on alcohol sponsorship.