asked the Minister for Education if the new sports council recently set up will have any actual authority over the allocation of funds for projects seeking Government grant aid.

The sports council will not have responsibility for the allocation of funds for projects seeking Government grant aid. As adviser to me in relation to the Government's policy on "Sport for All" and in accordance with the terms of reference which I have given to COSPOIR, it will prepare and submit recommendations on the financial requirements of the national governing bodies of sport.

The wealth of experience many of these members of the sports council have, and I congratulate the Minister of State on their appointments, could be put to great use but will be wasted if the recommendations they make are not implemented in regard to projects requiring Government grant aid.

The Deputy is giving information, not eliciting it.

I thank the Deputy for acknowledging the wealth of experience and intelligence we have on the council and it is because of that that I specifically gave them terms of reference which require them to do what they are doing here and in accordance with what the Deputy would have them do.