Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me the opportunity to raise an issue of vital importance for Churchtown GAA club in north Cork and many other sporting organisations. The issue is the delay in delivering funding to the club, which has been caused by a problem in the Land Registry. The funding allocation was made two and a half or three years ago and the club has been awaiting a directive from the Land Registry which it could forward to the Office of the Chief State Solicitor to enable the funding to be sanctioned. A number of clubs across the country are in the same position. Industrial action in the first half of 2010 prevented the Land Registry from addressing the matter. Although the industrial action ceased in June, the Chief State Solicitor's office has still not prepared the required paperwork or resolved outstanding issues with the Land Registry to ensure the funding can be drawn down by the club.

Churchtown GAA club has been ready to commence work on the project for which it secured the relevant funding since this time last year. Officials in the Department wish to ensure that every club receives its allocation as quickly as possible. The reason the club has been waiting to draw down the funding for such a long time is the inordinate delay in having the paperwork done on its application.

When the Minister met members of Churchtown GAA club in June last year he indicated that the allocation would be made once the issue causing the delay had been rectified in the Land Registry. Unfortunately, as we approach the middle of November, sanction for the funding is still not forthcoming. I ask the Minister of State to outline what steps have been taken to resolve this issue.

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