Community Sports Halls.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 November 2008

Wednesday, 12 November 2008

Ceisteanna (209, 210, 211)

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Ceist:

277 Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Science his intentions for the continuation of funding for community sports halls linked to schools (details supplied) in County Dublin along with two other facilities in Tallaght, following the closure of dormant accounts funding; if the decision to appoint the vocational educational committee as the supervisory body means that funding should be primarily channelled through VEC funding; if he is satisfied that the VEC has sufficient funds to cover the operational costs of the sports hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40256/08]

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Ceist:

278 Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the decision to appoint the Dublin County Vocational Educational Committee as the body responsible for ensuring that the sports hall in Palmerstown and north Clondalkin referred to in previous questions remain open and operational after dormant accounts funding dries up on 31 December 2008 in view of the fact that the VEC says that it does not have the money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40257/08]

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Ceist:

279 Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the stated aim of originally funding the sports hall at schools (details supplied) in County Dublin and the two Tallaght sports halls, he will liaise with the relevant Ministers in the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Social and Family Affairs, Health and Children, and Arts, Sport and Tourism, along with Dublin County Vocational Educational Committee and South Dublin County Council, to ensure that a guaranteed funding stream will be provided into 2009 and beyond in order that these halls can remain open as both school and community facilities and continue to provide the essential and valuable service they have been providing to residents living in the adjoining areas. [40258/08]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 to 279, inclusive, together.

The position is that the allocated funding will provide for the operation of the sports halls referred to by the Deputy until the end of 2008. My Department does not fund community facilities and I regret to say that it has not been found possible to identify an alternative source of funds that would enable the facilities to remain available for community usage on an ongoing basis. In the circumstances, my Department has written to the relevant stakeholders to advise them of the position.