Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to clarify one point. I did not say the Minister was withdrawing money from clubs that have received it, but there is an allocation of sports capital funding from the Department. If it is not going to be spent this year through the sports funding scheme, does the Minister propose to make money available through other mechanisms within his remit directly to the governing bodies or other sports organisations?

It is all very fine to say that clubs can put together development plans. However, as the Minister knows, if someone applies for a home loan, the bank may grant a mortgage but the house must be purchased within a certain timeframe. Nowadays these plans are compiled by professional individuals, including consultants, which cost money. There is a timeframe concerning the validity of such development plans, so every month that goes by it is costing these clubs money.

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