Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the ten years this country has had funding for sports, this year was the first that more than 40% of the money was allocated to disadvantaged areas. The invalid applications submitted meant we could not allocate more funding to disadvantaged areas or to Dublin. I would not and did not accept invalid applications. The officials in the Department went through and adjudicated the applications and no invalid application came before me. We allocated funding in Dublin and anywhere we had an opportunity to do so, particularly in disadvantaged areas. More than 50% of the 2,137 applications were invalid. I have received requests from throughout the country to meet groups and I would need a bus to bring them back and forth every day. I will never have a problem meeting the Deputy.

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