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Check Against Delivery

Speech by Frank Fahey T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

At the Presentation of the White Flag Awards for Leisure Facilities

On Thursday 23^rd October 2003

I am delighted to have been invited here today to present the White Flag Awards for Leisure Facilities. Since the White Flag Awards were devised by An Taisce and ILAM, in 2001, they have proved to be very successful with 74 Leisure Facilities from around the Country applying for the Award this year. It is a credit to all of the people involved that this pilot initiative is proving such a success.

This Awards Scheme, which is aimed at swimming pools, sports halls, gymnasiums and other indoor leisure facilities, is based on the successful European Blue Flag for Beaches and Marinas. This White Flag Award is geared towards environmental and safety requirements and the criteria for receiving a White Flag covers such areas as safe and easy access, staff qualifications, life guarding, water quality and treatment, hygiene standards, environmental management, recycling facilities, energy conservation etc.

This very worthwhile Awards Scheme will contribute in no small way to improving the standards of leisure facilities throughout Ireland. The very highest standards are now expected of every sport and leisure facility, which of course have to compete against a range of other attractions and amenities. The day of 'sure it will do' is long gone as far as the discerning Irish person is concerned. He, or she, rightly expects the highest quality of facility, cleanliness, efficiency and accessibility, with top-notch standards of management and service. This holds true of the voluntary community sector where sports clubs and local centres have to strive to provide a range and quality of facility undreamt of some years ago. The Sports Capital Programme, operated by my colleague, John O'Donoghue, T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, provides vital assistance to these organisations and clubs and supplements the extraordinary voluntary commitment of thousands of people.

Earlier this year, Minister O'Donoghue announced the allocation of €53 million to 617 projects under the 2003 Sports Capital Programme. The present and previous Government have now allocated almost €266 million to 3,500 sports projects under the Sports Capital Programme alone. These grants to local organisations and clubs are tremendously important in helping provide a range of top class facilities for a wide range of sport and leisure activities. The multi-purpose projects will greatly enhance the quality and range of sporting opportunities to all members of the community - children and adults alike. Indeed, the availability of top class facilities, indoor and outdoor, across a wide spectrum of sports and leisure activities, is now quite striking right throughout the country.

In addition, under his Department's Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, €9 million is being provided this year towards the refurbishment and provision of new swimming pools. Since 2000, which was the closing date for receipt of applications under the current Programme, 55 swimming pool projects have or are being dealt with. Grants totalling €24 million have been paid to swimming pool projects in Arklow, Courtown/Gorey, Dundalk, Ennis, Monaghan, Enniscorthy, Navan, Wicklow, Roscommon, Aquadome Tralee and Ballinasloe. Further swimming pool projects are currently under construction in Finglas in Dublin, Grove Island in Limerick, Tralee and Clonmel. The remaining projects are being processed through the various stages of the programme.

Of course, we also have the two world-class 50 metre pools - in Limerick and Abbotstown, Dublin.

The Government's commitment to sport and recreation is clearly being sustained. On a wider level, one of the key policies of this Government in relation to the development of sport and recreation is to increase participation particularly by disadvantaged communities. Sport has a natural and important part to play in combating the problems of drug abuse, crime and social exclusion, particularly among young people living in areas of social and economic disadvantage.

Recreational and sport activities make a unique contribution to the variety and richness of Irish society. They contribute in very special ways to social and economic development and impacts significantly on our culture and identity. The value of sport and recreation to the nation simply cannot be over-emphasised, in raising our health levels, in providing a means of keeping young people away from crime and drugs and in enhancing the quality of life.

Finally, I would like to thank you for your invitation to be with you here today and I offer my congratulations and best wishes to all of the Award winners. Thank you.

ENDS

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