Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to establish a new sports capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26435/11]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the sports capital programme will reopen; if he will provide information on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26498/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 22 together.

Under the Sports Capital Programme, funding is allocated to sporting and to voluntary and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country.

€33 million has been provided in the Department's vote in the 2011 Estimates to meet payments in respect of projects which have been allocated funding under the Sports Capital Programme.

Over 1,000 payments were made last year to projects which were being developed across the country. Such projects allow clubs to increase the opportunities for people to engage in sports at all levels. Since 1998, the Department has allocated over €743m in almost 7,500 separate allocations. This funding has transformed the level of sports facilities throughout the country.

In allocating this funding, special targeting and prioritisation has been given to projects in RAPID, CLAR and Local Drug Taskforce areas. In the most recent round of the SCP in 2008, these projects were permitted to have a lower level of minimum own funding available (20% for projects in CLÁR areas and 10% for RAPID and Local Drug Task Force areas in comparison with the normal 30%) towards their project, and they also received extra marks during the assessment process. Through these measures, the SCP has invested over €150 million in projects either in designated disadvantaged areas or serving these areas. No decision has been made in regard to the timing of a new round of the programme.