John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

I am aware of the wish of the Gaelic Athletic Association to develop a multi-annual programme for the refurbishment and redevelopment of major GAA venues. I am very much in favour of such a development and would point out to the Deputy that it has been practice over recent years to make provision in the annual sports capital programme allocations for grant support for a number of major GAA grounds. I intend to continue in this mode.

In the processing of the applications received annually under the sports capital programme all applications received from the county GAA boards for the refurbishment or redevelopment of their county grounds are forwarded to the GAA for its views on the strategic importance of the applications. Following its own internal consultative process, the GAA identifies its priorities and, having regard for this prioritisation and the levels of available funding, I make allocations in respect of selected projects.

Since 1998, a total of €14.43 million has been allocated towards the refurbishment and redevelopment of 24 GAA county grounds. Among the projects which have been supported are Pearse Stadium in Galway, the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, Markievicz Park in Sligo, O'Moore Park in Portlaoise, O'Connor Park in Tullamore, Hyde Park in Roscommon, Páirc Mac Diarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon and St. Conleth's Park in Newbridge. Since 1998 almost €134 million has been allocated towards GAA projects at local and regional level, which represents some 35% of the total allocation made under the programme. This funding is in addition to the funding of €103.5 million allocated over the same period towards the redevelopment of Croke Park into one of Europe's finest sports stadiums.

As recently as 16 May last, I and my officials met the president of the GAA and his officials. At this meeting, inter alia, the issue of the provision of funding in respect of strategic provincial facilities and county grounds was discussed. I understand the GAA has established a national infrastructural and safety committee which will undertake a review of its venues with a view to the formulation of a new strategy for the development of GAA facilities at regional and local level. I have indicated that I would be happy to consider any requests for funding from the GAA which it may wish to make arising from that review.

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