Sports grants and the community

A chara, – I noted with interest the comments of Minister for Sport Shane Ross on the opening of Páirc Uí­ Chaoimh for a forthcoming charity soccer match. Mr Ross stated in an interview with RTÉ that any body that receives sports grants “shares those facilities with the community”. He further clarified his point by stating, “They can’t just use it for their own use, they have an obligation to the community as well.”

Therefore, should a private school in Mr Ross’s constituency receive a large sports grant for, say, an all-weather hockey pitch, will they be compelled to share this facility with other sports clubs beyond hockey and with underprivileged and underfunded schools in the area? Surely Mr Ross has set a precedent . – Yours, etc,

CIARÁN McCABE,

Drogheda,

READ SOME MORE

Co Louth.