Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will begin by thanking Members of this House and the Seanad for their good wishes on my recent appointment as Minister of State in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. I look forward to working with Members of both Houses and the Minister, Deputy Ross, for the betterment of tourism and sport. I also compliment my predecessor, Deputy O'Donovan, on the work he did in this Department.

I thank Deputy Durkan for his question. It is a very important programme. Earlier this year, the programme was opened and closed in February to applications. There were a huge number of applications - 2,320 - seeking grants to the value of €155 million. There is a budget of €30 million. If the Deputy knows his Bible, the loaves and the fishes story comes to mind straight away. There is huge demand on this programme. I am trying to find a way to ensure we can grant as much funding as possible to as many clubs as possible. The Department is very busy at present processing the applications. I understand that as of 23 June, about 88% of applications have been processed. Very shortly we hope to be in a position to begin the allocation process. It will most likely be after the summer recess, possibly September, before we are in a position to announce the outcome of the programme.

We have seen a huge amount of investment in it throughout the country since 1998. Some €911 million has been granted in sports capital allocations since 1998. The mark of the programme is clear to see throughout the country with the infrastructure that is there. It is something that is in the programme for Government that we hope to continue on an annual basis because we know it is having a real impact on participation levels from the grassroots right up to elite level. It is very worthwhile.

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