To conclude my opening response to the question, Swim Ireland plans to purchase one such pool to allow swimming lessons to be taught onsite at schools, with an overall aim of providing children with the opportunity to gain life-saving swimming skills, particularly in areas not well served by swimming pool access. If successful, the scheme could be extended by the provision of additional container pools, something on which we will engage further with Swim Ireland. As I said, we have identified a national swimming st…

As the Deputy said, water safety is an absolute priority. The national sports policy identifies swimming as one of three sports that have great potential for generating higher levels of active participation over the course of one's life, along with cycling and running. That is why it has been given priority status and is receiving additional funding under the Dormant Accounts Fund to promote greater participation under the Get Swimming campaign. From my engagement with Swim Ireland in the context of treating swimmi…

On that issue, I agree and I acknowledge there are challenges in Fingal with pollution in our seas. There has been a big increase in funding to Irish Water to try to address some of the issues there.

I fully recognise the importance of arts, culture, sport and physical activity for our society and well-being, as well as the need to ensure opportunities are in place to allow all members of society to participate in such activities, particularly young people, who may have become disengaged during the pandemic. Sport Ireland is the statutory body responsible for the development of sport, including promotion of sports participation for all age groups, including young people. Increased funding has been provided to S…

I have more to say but my time is up.

We must continually review the impact of the ongoing restrictions on sport and young people's participation in it. I held a sports management group meeting only yesterday with many of the governing bodies and organisations and that was a topic raised by some involved in the call. We will do everything we can to support the grassroots system and the sporting organisations so that we can enable young people to go back to sport. From my engagement with many sporting clubs and organisations, I know that many young peop…

We want to do everything we can to get as many young people as possible back playing sport. I share Deputy Gould's objective. I am of the same view about getting as many people back as possible.

That is always important. I thank Deputy Gould. As I indicated previously, we are in ongoing engagement with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on a package for sport this year. There was a very positive package last year of approximately €90 million, which included a club resilience fund. The fund was designed to support sporting organisations at grassroots level with some of their costs. We are engaging in discussions on a package for this year. Whether it is a boxing club or other type of sports club…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 77 together. The sports capital and equipment programme is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment. In excess of 13,000 projects have benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to more than €1 billion. The programme for Government commits to continuing the sports capital and equipment programme and to prioritising the …

I thank both Deputies for their questions. On the first question from Deputy Farrell, the factual position is that if an error is identified in an application, that is communicated to the club and can be clarified. However, if it is a matter of submitting new information which will affect the assessment, that is not allowable. Historically, there were a huge number of unsuccessful applications because of minor errors in the application process. That is outlined in the documentation and all clubs are kept abreast of…

A minimum of €40 million is available but there should be scope to make a higher allocation in the context of the lower than expected drawdown of existing grants and the possibility of extra funding following the review of the national development plan. There is scope for it and there will be ongoing engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Regarding the published criteria, key components are: the likelihood of increasing participation in sport, as people mentioned; sharing of facilities; le…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 85 together. I echo what the Deputy said. We were all horrified by what happened to Christian Eriksen and I commend his teammates on what they did on the day. I am glad he is recovering well. The procurement of defibrillators and subsequent training is in the first instance a matter for each individual club. However, the State provides a number of supports for their purchase and training for their use. The sports capital and equipment programme is the primary vehicle for Gove…

I am sorry about Ciaran Carr and I commend his family. In my area, Seaghan Kearney, who is involved in St. Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh GAA club, tells the story of the importance of having a defibrillator in communities throughout the country. In response to Deputy Ó Murchú's question, this will primarily cover the deficits in sporting infrastructure throughout the country. We are trying to ensure it includes defibrillators. I will engage with my colleagues with responsibility for the community sector. Speaking pe…

I thank all of the Deputies for their questions and constructive input. I agree with what Deputy Farrell said. All of the local sports partnerships are interlinked with the local authorities. We can play a role in aligning the sports infrastructure with community facilities in line with what the Deputy mentioned has been done by Dublin City Council. We will work with all Deputies on this issue. What people saw on their screens with regard to Christian Eriksen has alerted the minds of everyone to it. We also need ge…

No.

The time has gone back.

I move: That notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, and with effect until Thursday 1st July, 2021— (1) subject to paragraph (2), where there is opposition to an arrangement or arrangements on the Order of Business, or where an amendment or amendments have been proposed to the arrangements, the Ceann Comhairle may permit a statement not exceeding one minute thereon from the Leader or a representative of each party or group in Opposition, and a representative of Government may make a statement in response which…

No.

There are two Government Deputies and a Sinn Féin Deputy on the list, as per Dáil reform. If the Leas-Ceann Comhairle is accommodating the additional two leaders from the groups, we should also accommodate the two Government Deputies and the other Sinn Féin Deputy who are on the first list. To be fair, it is important to accommodate all speakers who are here.

Dáil reform.