Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The good news is that the scheme will happen. I am in discussion with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I have written to him officially and I expect a response in the next few days. The scheme will be up and running in the next three weeks and we will announce the amount of funding for it.

Regarding funding for projects already grant-aided, I will give Deputy Ellis a commitment that the €24 million allocated to the programme this year is available to any project that draws down funding. Once everything is in order, funding for the project will be paid and there has never been a problem with that. In the past, a number of sports organisations ran into difficulty with planning and legal problems. Any project within the rules and regulations will be paid. Over the next number of weeks, we will announce the programme and people will know the amount of funding in place. The application forms will be online and people will also have the opportunity to fill out the forms in written form. The good news is that scheme will open and that we will have a second round between now and 2015. We have not had the scheme since 2008. Along with every other Deputy in this House, people are onto me every day because many organisations want to upgrade facilities or purchase new facilities. I hope we can deal with as many as possible. There will be criteria for the fund and people have the opportunity to make applications.

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