Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise the provision of a sports grant from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism in respect of the village of Golden, County Tipperary, where I reside.

I was reluctant to raise this matter by way of the Adjournment. I will, however, outline the background to it for the Minister of State. I wish to express my disappointment with regard to the lack of funding for a project that has the support of the entire community. More than two years ago, the local hall in which meetings and various sporting activities were held, was demolished because the local authority stated it was unfit for use and that insurance could not be obtained in respect of it. At that time, the parish had run a lottery which yielded €1,000 per week. In the interim, approximately €380,000 has been accumulated by way of lottery and other fund-raising activities.

Proposals in respect of the project were put to the Department on four different occasions. An application is currently with the Department in which it is proposed to build a new hall and sports centre that will accommodate the GAA and camogie clubs, the parish council and every other organisation within the parish. Those in the parish were devastated last year when they discovered the project was not being funded by the Department. They lobbied various Ministers and deputations met the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism on three occasions. They were promised on each occasion that the money would be provided. On their behalf, I wish to state that they were not merely disappointed but devastated that national lottery funding in respect of their proposal has not been forthcoming. The most recent proposal was altered to bring it into line with the guidelines.

I accept the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, does not have direct responsibility in this area. However, I want him to relay what I am saying in respect of this project to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. It is of great importance to the community in this growing rural area. Members observe week after week in this House that rural Ireland is thriving. This project is an integral aspect of community life in the parish of Golden, County Tipperary, but the Government has let the community down. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, to relate my views to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. I was reluctant to raise the issue by this means but there does not seem to be any other way of putting pressure on the Minister to ensure the entitlements of this community.

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