Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or any agencies operating under his aegis has carried out any study into the provision of sporting facilities for disabled children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32090/12]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Neither my Department nor any of the agencies operating under its aegis have carried out any study into the provision of sporting facilities for disabled children. However, the Programme for Government includes a commitment that in planning legislation the Government will promote and support universal design whereby all environments can be used to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of age, ability or disability. I believe that all new publicly funded sports developments and the redevelopment of existing facilities should be designed to be accessible to people with disabilities. I can inform the Deputy that I launched a special initiative in 2011 to provide grants to local authorities for enhanced disabled access and energy efficiency measures in swimming pools. More than €14m has been allocated to local authorities by my Department under this initiative.