Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I accept the helpline is excellent. I have used the helpline since becoming a Deputy and find it fantastic. The most frustrating part is that after completing one's application online, one presses a button and it is accepted. Automatically, one thinks one is validated and that everything is fine. However, when the sports capital grants are announced there is a list showing those who received it. That is great for the people who get it. There is also list showing the people whose applications were invalid and then it is too late. As the Chairman said it causes a lot of friction within the club. When one presses a button in the bank having completed a form and it is accepted, one thinks everything is fine. Suddenly, one discovers that something about it is not fine. Most of these things are very simple. The application form is simple to fill in. However, there are a few technical hitches that need to be sorted. To be fair, I acknowledge that the helpline is absolutely fantastic. Last year I had to get on the helpline almost 20 times for different applications.

I agree that many applications have been submitted. Ireland is a sporting country. We have rugby, soccer, Gaelic, golf, everything, and that is fantastic. All of these sporting organisations are seeking a small amount of help. It is probably the only type of funding they can get because there are too many people seeking sponsorship. I agree that €42 million, which is a 65% increase, is a fantastic amount of money. Being a spokesperson, I am kept informed. People automatically think in 2016 that there will be sports capital grants. In fairness, after this meeting there will be many disappointed clubs and societies. If the Minister has anything in his budget, even in October, November or December, will he please make it available in 2016? He could perhaps clarify that he will have a sports capital grant in 2016 but that the next one will be in 2018. I think it is unfair because I am sure everybody in this room has been approached. It is very disappointing news for many sporting organisations who discover today that there will be no sports capital grants for 2016.