Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To take the last point first, I would be very slow to withdraw any grant that has been allocated to a sporting club because, as Deputy O'Keeffe knows, many sporting clubs have difficulties regarding planning permissions and the matching of funding. I certainly would not accept the suggestion that we withdraw money that has already been allocated.

The only state of confusion seems to be among certain members of the Opposition. I could not make it clearer that no decision has been made on this issue and that both the Minister, Deputy Ross, and I are committed to it. I point to the years 2012 onwards in that regard. The timeframe in which any allocation or announcement would be made allows the potential for something to happen in 2016. The only confusion and uncertainty out there is, I think, generated by people who almost hope in a way that we might not be able to do it. Our aspiration is that we will be able to do it. The clubs are certainly looking for it, and individual sporting organisations have over the last number of months been engaging with the Department on an online basis anyway. Ongoing assistance is available from the Department for people who are preparing applications and they should continue in that vein.

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