andMr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education the amount of the Government's contribution to Ireland's participation in the Olympic Games both directly by way of grants and by way of indirect assistance and the number of athletes who will participate on behalf of the Irish Olympic team.

To date the Government have contributed £135,000 by way of direct financial assistance, through the Olympic Council of Ireland, to Ireland's participation in the 1980 Olympic Games. A decision on this year's grant has not yet been made.

In addition, special arrangements have been made for Olympic panellists to avail of the expertise and facilities of Thomond College, Limerick, and to train at Ballinteer Community School Sports Complex where, with the co-operation of the school authorities, a fully equipped training centre with dining room has been established. The cost of these special initiatives, which are ongoing, is £20,000 to date. The number of athletes who may participate on behalf of the Irish Olympic team is a matter for determination by the Olympic Council of Ireland.

Has the decision not to make a decision yet in relation to this year's allocation to the IOC any connection with the Government's attitude on whether they will recommend the attendance of Ireland at the Moscow Olympics?

The amounts are given through the Department's grant-in-aid scheme to the national governing bodies of sport and to the IOC.

Is the decision of the Government not to allocate any money this year, or to suspend or postpone the allocation this year, in any way connected with the Government's political decision on the participation of Ireland in the Moscow Olympics?

In fact the Government have paid £19,372.09 to the IOC for the training of the Olympic panelists.

In his reply the Minister indicated that a decision has not been taken in relation to the final allocation this year. Can the Minister indicate if there is any connection between the non-decision and the possibility of the Government recommending that we do not participate in the Moscow Olympics?

I do not think there is any connection.

Therefore, can the IOC expect to receive the same amount of funding pro rata, as they received last year and that there are not political considerations involved in the current delay?

The decision will be made in the light of the facts put before the Government by the IOC.

A number of athletes are in training and wondering if there will be funds made available. Can I take it that any question about this has not political connections with pressure from any other Government in relation to Ireland's attendance at these games—and that, subject to normal hitches, the money will be made available in due course? In other words, are our athletes wasting their time?

The Deputy can assure the athletes who he claims to know are worried that the Government will provide them with funds to enable them to train. I should like to add by way of rider that any money spent on the training of athletes for the Olympic Games is not and could not be regarded as wasted money because the actual training is a virtue in itself.

When, last year, was the decision made on the amount of grant that would be made available for that year?

I have not got that information available to me immediately.

Will the Minister accept that the end of April is rather late to be telling the House that, to quote the Minister, a decision on this year's grant has not yet been made?

I would agree with the Deputy if the result was that there was an interruption or a lack of facilities for training the athletes. There has not been a an interruption and there has not been a lack of facilities as far as the Olympic Games are concerned. Indeed, facilities were made available to our athletes such as were never made available before on the ever of the Olympic Games.

When does the Minister expect the decision to be made? Will it be before 24 May?

I can assure the House that the Department will finance the whole training activity adequately, irrespective of any outside consideration.

Is the Minister kicking for touch?

I follow a different code.

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