John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

Last year Kerry finished in the middle of the table, but this year it did not. The grants announced to date represent grants for local clubs, not grants to major regional infrastructure projects which are normally in more urbanised centres. When the regional grants are added in, the picture will probably change. While the number of applications from County Kildare was down this year by 25%, the number of applications from Kerry was quite high.

Department officials do their best in terms of what are limited funds and use certain criteria in coming to an assessment of the scores. The criteria include the extent to which the projects increase active participation and result in improved standards of sport, the need to achieve an equitable geographical spread of funds and an equitable spread over different sports and community groups while prioritising designated disadvantaged areas, the financial viability of the project and the extent to which applicants have consulted with other clubs, community groups, schools, the local authority and the national governing bodies in order to prioritise proposed improvements and facilities.

With regard to the disbursement of grants for various disciplines, in the round they are far more equitable than the Deputy imagines.

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