Sports Council
The Sports Council, established by the Recreation and Youth Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, has the function of furthering support in physical recreation. In accordance with arrangements approved by the Department, it shall advise Government Departments, Education and Library Boards, and Councils on matters related to sports and physical recreation.
It shall encourage the provision of facilities for and participation in sport and physical recreation. It shall also assist in providing services, equipment, coaching, instruction, organizing, and supporting participation in international and other events by bodies providing facilities for sport and physical recreation or organizing such activities.
The Sports Council may assist by financial contribution but requires the consent of the Department for payments to bodies other than a voluntary organisation.
The Council may receive donations, charge for services, organize conferences, training, sports, and physical recreation events, print and publish and disseminate material, provide or assist in the provision and management of centres for sport and physical recreation, cooperate with other bodies in pursuit of its activities, and carry out research and studies. The Department may give directions regarding the performance of the Council’s functions as deemed expedient.
The Department may make grants towards the expenses of the Council. The Council is authorized to borrow within limits. It is required to submit its accounts, keep accounts, prepare them, and submit them to the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Comptroller is responsible for examining the accounts, and the Department is to lay them before the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The Sports Council is responsible for preparing an annual report to be transmitted to the Department and laid before the Assembly.
Each district council shall ensure the provision of adequate facilities for recreational, social, physical, and cultural activities within its area. For this purpose, it may, either alone or in collaboration with other district councils, establish and maintain such facilities, organize any such activities, provide financial contributions to persons establishing, maintaining, and managing social facilities, and provide leaders for such activities through its measures of contribution or otherwise. It may also defray and contribute towards the expenses of persons participating in these activities.
With the approval of the Department of the Environment, the district council may provide a facility referred to above for either the whole of Northern Ireland or areas outside its jurisdiction.
District councils may enact bye-laws regulating the use and management of lands and buildings provided by them, including regulations regarding dates and times, charges and admissions, preservation of order, and the prevention of nuisances on the land. Bye-laws may authorize persons employed by the council or the police, after giving due warning, to remove persons or exclude them from places where the bye-laws are in force, where the person is reasonably suspected of committing offenses against the bye-laws.
The Department may make grants towards approved expenses incurred by district councils or voluntary organizations providing for recreation, sports, social, physical, and cultural activities. These grants may be essential for voluntary organizations whose objectives include the provision of facilities for recreation or social, physical, or cultural activities to individuals undergoing approved training courses for employment in recreation, sports, social, or cultural activities.
Provision is made for cases where land or buildings have been furnished to a private entity and are later disposed of or cease to be used in accordance with their conditions. In such cases, a clawback sum payable to the Department by the Council or voluntary organization shall be determined equitably, not exceeding a formula.