John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Minister referred to the €56 million in funding available for projects approved before this year. In a previous reply he mentioned that some clubs, organisations and committees are in difficulty and will be unable to draw down funding allocated to them because they are unable to secure supporting finance from banks. If some of this allocated funding is not drawn down, might new applications be accepted in order to avail of it?

The Minister has stated that for every €1 allocated in the sports capital programme, €3 is generated locally. Such funding helps to provide employment at local level. Moreover, a club or organisation that would have received €50,000 two years ago would get much more work down now for the same amount. I ask the Minister, on behalf of the sporting clubs and organisations, to offer some hope that the grants will be reinstated sooner rather than later so that they can plan ahead for the facilities they wish to provide for young people in this State.

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