§ Kate HoeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been allocated to swimming in Northern Ireland from(a) lottery funding and (b) Exchequer funding, in (i) 2000–01, (ii) 2001–02, (iii) 2002–03 and (iv) 2003–04; and for which country the two swimmers allocated funding to prepare for the 2004 Olympic Games will be competing. [103708]
896W
§ Angela SmithThe total amount of money allocated to swimming in Northern Ireland from(a) lottery funding and (b) Exchequer funding in the years listed is as follows:
£ Funding 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 (a) Lottery 43,861 32,828 26,468 Not available (h) Exchequer 20,000 20,000 23,500 Not available Note:
The lottery figures take into account awards made from the Talented Athlete, Talented Athlete Next Generation and Talented Junior programmes.
Two swimmers are currently on funding programmes associated with the Lottery Sports Fund and both have as their targeted events, competition at the 2004 Olympic Games. Both athletes, as members of the local governing body for the sport, Swim Ulster, which is affiliated with the national governing body, Swim Ireland, will compete for Ireland if selected for Olympic competition. However, selection for competition at the 2004 Olympic Games has not yet taken place and it would be premature to state that either swimmer will be competing.