Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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201. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he continues to pursue a strategy to maximise the degree to which sport can play a major role in the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46636/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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202. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has studied other European countries' use of sport as an economic propellant; if he will continue to pursue such a similar strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46637/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together.

The sports sector's contribution to the economy includes sports tourism, ticket sales, subscriptions and the cost of playing sport, together with the purchase of sports equipment and an economic value of time given by volunteers. 

I am supportive of the ongoing efforts of the Tourism Agencies and the National Governing Bodies of Sport to attract international events, subject, of course, to an assessment of the costs/benefits involved in any State financial support.   In that context, I was delighted that the FAI and Dublin City Council recently won their bid to host part of the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament at the Aviva stadium, a bid which had my strong support and indeed the support of the Government as a whole.  

In addition, a working group was established to examine key issues in relation to the possibility of Ireland hosting the Rugby World Cup in the future. The working group, on which the IRFU and relevant Government Departments from both jurisdictions were represented, has reported and, in conjunction with our colleagues in Northern Ireland, Minister Donohoe and I have been examining the report and considering the most appropriate next steps.  

My Department is developing a new National Sports Policy which will be the framework for the new body, Sport Ireland, following the merger of the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority, and will have regard to international best practice.  It will also examine cross-sectoral issues such as the role of sport in education and health and where the focus on Government spending in sport should be.  

I would also mention the impact of the Sports Capital Programme which helps to create jobs across all areas of the country. I was delighted to announce that I have secured funding for another round of the Programme in 2015. This will be the third round of the Programme since this Government was elected to office and follows from an investment of €30m in 2012 and €40m in 2014.