Irish Sports Council chief executive John Treacy has described the first eight in a network of Local Sports Partnerships as the start of "the most important work" the council will carry out in the next three years.

The two key aims of the partnerships, which were announced yesterday, will be to increase participation in sport and to ensure local resources are used to maximum effect. According to Treacy, this realises one of the main objectives of the Sports Council when it was established as a statutory body in 1999.

"One of our first priorities was to develop strategies to increase participation and remove barriers in sport at every level. These partnerships are the important link in the co-ordination of our national policies and ensuring that they filter down to local level.

"They will allow resources to be focused and programmes and facilities accessed in a way that has not yet been possible. And they will provide valuable supports to those already giving up their time to develop and sustain sport at a local level."

The council will invest £860,000 in the first eight partnerships, and when the national network of 40 local partnerships is completed by the end of 2003, the annual budget will be in the region of £3.6 million. The first eight areas to benefit from the partnerships are Clare, Donegal, Fingal, Kildare, Laois, Roscommon, Sligo and Tipperary North. Four other areas - Cork, Limerick, Meath and Waterford - will join the programme next year.

Each partnership will appoint a full-time local sports co-ordinator. Priorities for each area will be agreed in consultation with the communities served by the partnership but the three main areas of operation are information, education and implementation of programmes.

Local VECs, local authorities, health boards, FAS, the third level sector, commercial interests, sports clubs and organisations and voluntary/ community groups will all play an important role.

The Minister for Sport, Dr McDaid, said the partnerships will "enhance the work of our many volunteers by giving them access to training and other supports, thereby benefiting the people they work with in the community".

In each area, the partnership will be established as a company limited by guarantee, with its priorities decided in consultation with constituent members. Among the aims of the partnerships is the better use of existing facilities in the area, and in accordance with the overall Sports Council strategy, priority in funding will be given to those of multi-use. That, however, will not affect the GAA.