National Governing Bodies may lose their grant assistance if they fail to to implement successful strategic planning and development, according to the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr Jim McDaid.

Dr McDaid told representatives of most governing bodies at a sports conference entitled "Looking to the Future" in Dublin Castle on Saturday: "I feel we can look forward to the future of Irish Sport with optimism and confidence," said Dr McDaid, "but it will take a strategic approach, sound planning, fully backed by membership and well focused expenditure."

Dr McDaid said: "The higher levels of expectation of governing bodies will require tightly focused organisation and management, greater marketing, clearer planning, quality coaching and training as well as a more active involvement in the general running of their sport."