Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I recently announced that I will be advertising two new rounds of the sports capital programme between now and 2016. I am currently making the necessary arrangements with a view to launching the first round in the coming weeks. The advertisement of the new round and the amount to be allocated will be decided in consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The programme for Government specifies that sports funding should prioritise projects that further greater participation in sport on a local and national level. This will be the central focus of the new rounds of the programme.

The programme aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to developing sports and physical recreation facilities throughout the country. The programme assists the development of high quality, safe, well-designed and sustainable facilities in appropriate locations and the provision of appropriate equipment to help maximise participation in sport and physical recreation. The programme prioritises the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of sports facilities and encourages the multi-purpose use of local, regional and national sports facilities by clubs, community organisations and national governing bodies of sport. Qualifying organisations such as voluntary and community organisations, national governing bodies of sport, VECs, local authorities and, in some circumstances, schools will be able to apply in writing or online using a form that will be made available when the programme is launched.

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