Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

At close of business last Friday the amount of outstanding sports capital commitments was €53 million, as compared with a figure of €71 million at the end of 2012. The corresponding figure at the end of 2008 was €191 million. For a variety of reasons, it can take grantees several years to draw down allocations.  Some of the more common reasons include: delays in finalising the legalities required to protect the State’s investment; delays in the planning process and-or construction and difficulties in raising the required matching funding.

Where delays are excessive or a project has ceased, the Department has sought to withdraw allocations.  This is a labour intensive and time consuming process, although in 2011 it was possible to withdraw €2.8 million of previous years’ allocations from 112 separate projects. Some withdrawals are of a complete allocation where projects are not going ahead, while others may only be for a small amount where projects have been completed and the grantees cannot draw down the remainder of the allocation. Owing to resource issues there was no withdrawals process in 2012 or 2013. However, one grantee was informed in 2013 that an allocation of €500,000 was being withdrawn.

I was delighted to be able to launch the 2014 round of the sports capital programme earlier this year, for which €40 million is available. Applications received under the 2014 sports capital programme are being assessed by officials in my Department.  Every application will be assessed by one official and reviewed by another.  Given the number of applications received and the detail contained therein, this process will take a number of months to complete.  I hope to announce allocations shortly.

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