Doc in the dock over campus plan

You may say what you like about Pat Kenny, but at least he isn't averse to giving sport a soapbox on prime-time television.

On The Late, Late Show on Friday night, it was somewhat ironic that, an hour or so after John McEnroe wondered out loud, "where are the Irish guys?", in reference to the absence of any Irish tennis player of note on the world stage, the man with the financial resources to make it happen pulled up a chair beside the host.

Earlier that day, Dr Jim McDaid, the Minister for Sport, had unfurled his plans for Sports Campus Ireland, the "biggest, most significant development in the history of Irish sport". Given the traditional lack of any worthwhile State development in terms of sporting infrastructure, then, you could argue, it doesn't have a lot to overtake. But, precisely because so little has been done in the past, the sheer scale of this proposal is mindblowing.

That's what the planted economists in the audience thought too. One of them, Sean Barrett, talked of a project that was "out of control," in financial terms, with costs spiralling before a single brick had been laid. He also told us that existing stadiums, including Lansdowne Road, were "perfectly adequate". And a public caller, called Nuala, who was not planted we were informed by Kenny, talked of the "arrogance" of the Minister in proposing such a project at a time when the health services were in such dire straits.

McDaid, who is a medical doctor, was not being arrogant. He was being a snappy dressed politician conveying the news this Government was intent on making a statement with the financial resources it has at its disposal. "If we don't do it now," he said, "(then) let's close the book on this and put it away for 30, 40 more years and let's go coat-tailing to Europe and let our people be second-class citizens."

No other sports minister has dispensed so much money to sports organisations at grass roots level as McDaid. Of course, the National Lottery has helped; and, yes, there are problems, especially with community-based clubs getting their hands on the money.

In fact, a member of the audience was a community worker in Ballyfermot. Linda Kavanagh told us of a boxing club called St Matthew's who have a proven track record but who had failed to get their hands on any sports grant to build a home of their own.

"They've been training for the last 20 years in a toilet, cloakroom area of a local school," she told the minister, which smacked of the very kind of second-class citizens McDaid doesn't want us to be.

"Organisations in local areas are struggling. Trainers, managers, committees are working and giving time on a voluntary basis," she said, pointing out the criteria for getting one of the sports capital grants demanded clubs should have at least 10 per cent of the cost.

In many areas, that is just not possible. There is a Catch 22 situation and Kenny pointed out that something like £6 million had not been used last year because of the failure of clubs and organisations to meet the criteria.

Sure, this is an area that needs to be improved; and, where there is such a track record of providing such a service to the community, can't exceptions be made?

As far as Sports Campus Ireland goes, one of the most pertinent observations came from Olympian John Treacy, head of the Irish Sports Council and a board member of the project. It was to be expected his views would be biased . . . but they were extremely well presented. "I don't think we should be making excuses for spending money on sport. Sport touches the lives of every family in this country. It really is about time we spent money on sport. We shouldn't be shy about spending money on sport," he said.

As someone who had to depart these shores to further his training, Treacy knows the benefits of having a state-of-the-art facility in this country.

"This is an opportunity to train in your own country, to have the best facilities in your own country. The best sports science and sports medicine, the best coaches . . . you don't have to go overseas to train. If more people were participating in sport, maybe there would be less people going into beds in hospital."

McEnroe wasn't asked his opinion about the new sports campus but he touched on something that most parents could relate to. As the father of six children, he observed they were absorbed with "computers and videos" and had so many options (compared to his generation). "We've got to reach out more," he said, of the battle to attract children to sports participation.

Which is a salient point as far as the sports campus and stadium is concerned. The need exists to invest even more money on facilities at local level so today's children can be tomorrow's sporting stars. Perhaps, the building of the Abbotstown facility will get them to dream . . . just as a young Eddie Keher dreamed of playing for Kilkenny when, as a 10-year-old, his teacher regaled him with the feats of Lory Meagher, the legendary Kilkenny hurler. Keher passed on this nugget to us in Sportiris on RTE 1 on Saturday afternoon, and, given the debate of the previous night, it emphasised how much times have changed and what we need to do to entice our children into sporting pursuits.

Meanwhile, Network 2's coverage of the eircom League match on Friday evening demonstrated the domestic soccer scene is far from dead. Although Brian Kerr made the observation at half-time that the attacking threat from St Pat's was so small even he could play in goal for Shels, that viewpoint was turned on its head in the second-half as the Inchicore side smashed four goals past the league leaders and opened up the entire championship race in the process.

Afterwards, an out-of-breath Pat Dolan, manager of 'Pats, was interviewed by George Hamilton and was surrounded by loudly cheering home supporters. Dolan talked of a "dream night" and how the players "love that jersey, (how) it still means something."

That emotion and enthusiasm should be tapped. I don't know Dolan's views on the proposed BertieBowl, but if ever big-time soccer moves in there, this is the man with the sort of enthusiasm and get-up-and-go that could help make it work.