Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 6: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if sport might benefit to a greater extent through provision of facilities for universal sports education in schools rather than simply targeting the self-selecting participants who benefit from the various programmes for the disadvantaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25614/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 14 together.

The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations and, in certain circumstances, sports and colleges, throughout the country. It is the main vehicle for development of sports facilities at local, regional and national level throughout the country. Under the programme, priority is given to the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of sports facilities

Primary and post-primary schools wishing to be considered for funding under the programme may apply for it jointly with local sports clubs or community groups and must meet other conditions including a requirement that the local community will have significant access to the proposed facility, at least 30 hours a week throughout the year, when it is not being used by the school itself. Any sports facility proposed for funding by a sporting organisation, and which would be located within school grounds, would have to meet these same conditions. Applications from primary and post-primary schools and colleges on their own are not considered under the programme. Responsibility for the provision of sports facilities in schools and colleges is a matter in the first instance for my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science.

My Department has commenced work on the development of a national sports facility strategy that will advocate a planned approach to the provision of sports facilities at both local and national level. An inter-agency steering group has been established to oversee this work and includes representation from my Department and the Department of Education and Science. The work of this group has included discussions with the Department of Education and Science on how its policy on the provision of sports hall facilities and my Department's policy for the provision of sports facilities might be complementary. The issues raised by the Deputies will be addressed in the development of the new strategy for sports facilities.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I welcome the Minister's reply and thank him for it. These questions were tabled because, like most people, Members are concerned that so many children never come into contact with sport. In many cases they are unhealthy and obese and are not excelling in sport. I do not need to indicate to the Minister the benefits that accrue to a generation of children exposed to sport at a young age. Such children carry those benefits with them throughout their lives. However, there are children who go through primary and secondary school without ever visiting a sports hall.

We are doing something wrong. Every child has a right to become involved in sport. Money is being invested in programmes relating to disadvantaged areas but these largely help children who are in any way self-selecting. No matter how disadvantaged, a motivated parent will push his or her child forward. Clubs do great work but they tend to cherry-pick the best children. Every child deserves to and should be exposed to sport. The State has an obligation to ensure that children have access to sport.

The corollary to this is that where facilities are provided in schools at public expense, such facilities must remain open for use after 5 p.m. each evening and at weekends. Will the Minister indicate the progress that is being made in respect of this issue? I accept that it is a condition for future funding in respect of facilities in schools. However, there are schools throughout the country that have facilities — even if, for example, these are only basic playgrounds — which are locked up and which children cannot access. This is an important matter, particularly in the context of the numbers of working parents who cannot and who do not have the time to bring their children to sports facilities outside their areas. All primary schools have some form of facilities and these should be made available to local children.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have asked those responsible for the new national sports facility strategy to examine that matter. I take the Deputy's point. Since 1998, approximately €700 million has been allocated to 6,700 projects under the sports capital programme. This means that an enormous number of projects are spread throughout the country. It was extremely important for the nation that we spent that money on these projects. Having expended that money, we can now give careful consideration to the stock of facilities that are available. In the audit relating to the national sports facility strategy and in preparing for another round of sports capital programme funding, we must assess the areas in which facilities owned by schools and colleges complement public facilities. This is to ensure duplication does not occur, while also ensuring complementary facilities are available. It is in this direction the emphasis will now lie.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It might be better to address my question directly to the Minister for Education and Science. However, many schools have either no PE facilities or have facilities that are completely inadequate. Apart from the points raised by Deputy Mitchell regarding obesity, the need for PE etc., sooner or later PE is going to become a recognised school subject. We will then find ourselves in a situation where a subject that will be extremely attractive to many youngsters will be put in place but where the facilities necessary to allow them to avail of it will not be available.

Certain parts of my constituency would be regarded as disadvantaged and I am aware of the lack of facilities at some of the schools in these areas. Even when schools have sports halls, they often lack sufficient financial support to allow them to provide gym kits for students. Will the Minister comment on the need to provide broader support in respect of PE, particularly in the context of its becoming a school subject.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A total of 54 joint applications involving schools and colleges and their local communities were received last year and a sum of €1.4 million was allocated to 13 school-based projects. There is scope, and the opportunity exists, for our educational institutions to partner communities in seeking to develop sports facilities.

On the broader point, all the relevant research shows that sport and exercise are enormously beneficial — particularly in therapeutic and physical terms — to young people and adds greatly to their character. It is, therefore, incumbent on the State to provide the maximum level of facilities. As already stated, over a nine-year period almost 7,000 projects were funded by the taxpayer under the sports capital programme. If one travels throughout the country, one can see the enormous benefits that have emanated from these projects. What are normally referred to as minority sports also have been strongly supported. However, further co-operation, consultation and integration is required between my Department and the Department of Education and Science as regards sport. I engage in further work to ensure this happens and that we achieve the type of objective to which the Deputy refers, namely, a better, healthier lifestyle for students.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I agree with the comments made by everybody here regarding the importance of sport. As someone who was a teacher for 30 years, I realise the importance of this. Deputy Mitchell made the point about the use of facilities in schools for communities. It is a hugely important and burning matter and raises a number of issues, such as the question of insurance. I do not know whether this has been, or can be, overcome. There is also a fear among school principals that if their facilities are opened up, they will be closing up at 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. The idea is fantastic but the process needs to be thought through to make it a win-win for everybody.

For too many years, physical education has been a joke in the sense it is supposed to be part of the curriculum but is pushed out because of the points race and the pressure on everybody and is regarded as an interference. That attitude must change. My experience of working with young people, both on the sports field and in the education field, has shown me that the disciplines they learn in sport can be carried into their academic careers and that they can cope better with their academic careers by letting off steam or their frustrations in sport. I do not see these things as problems, rather, I see them as huge opportunities. However, physical education has not been taken seriously up to now and there is a great opportunity for the Government and all of us involved to do this now.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy Doyle has a brief supplementary question. We must then conclude discussion regarding these questions.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

One of the difficulties faced by some organisations is that they do not own or have a 35-year lease on the grounds or facilities. This issue is probably relevant to national lottery funding as well as sports capital funding. Is the sports strategy review group addressing this issue? People find themselves in a chicken and egg situation. They cannot move because they cannot get the funding. They cannot get the 35-year or long-term lease because they cannot afford to purchase it without that sort of funding being made available.

In respect of trying to develop co-operation with existing educational facilities, such facilities do not want to and cannot lease their properties or grounds to an organisation that might use them. The organisation cannot then get access to funding without having a lease so this is something that must be looked at, particularly in respect of national lottery funding for the ongoing running of organisations. Many of these clubs are marginal. They are not the GAA or soccer clubs of this world. They are different athletic clubs and need land, which is a scarce commodity, but cannot afford to either lease or buy it.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Very practical issues have been raised by Deputies relating to insurance, leases and how all this can be dealt with. I will ask the sports facility strategy group through the national audit of local sports facilities that is under way to examine those issues.

As we invest heavily in bricks and mortar, which we have done very substantially for ten years, we must also continue to invest in and examine the extent to which we need to invest in the software side of it, as opposed to the hardware side. We can have many fine bricks and mortar projects but we need to bring on the people, including the professional support and volunteer background people, who will give us the athletes and performers. We must ensure we maintain a balance between investment in what I call the hardware side of sport and the software side. We must not get this too far out of balance or we will regret it.