Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I take the Deputy's point and see from where he is coming. One of the key things about the use of the Pobal deprivation index is that a blunt instrument was used previously where an applicant fell or did not under either the CLÁR programme or the RAPID programme and the different categories within them. The Pobal deprivation index is more specific. One of the failures of the deprivation index is where a club serves a large catchment area and its co-ordinates are in an advantaged area, yet its membership is drawn predominantly from disadvantaged backgrounds. I am the first to say it is not a perfect system, but we must have some way of including levels of disadvantage in the application process.

I hear what the Deputy is saying about equipment-only applications. The logic behind the application of the Pobal deprivation index in all aspects of the programme is that fund-raising capacity and ability in communities tends to be lower where there are higher levels of disadvantage. That is the mentality, whether it be for a large or a smaller grant. I see where the Deputy is coming from when he says people are at a disadvantage by not being disadvantaged and that they are less likely to receive higher amounts of funding. In general, the logic is that clubs are in a better position to raise finances from their membership if it is drawn predominantly from a non-disadvantaged area. We will be carrying out a review in advance of the putting in place of the 2019 programme and I will be very happy to take on board what the Deputy has said. It may well be workable to factor it into the programme. If that would be fair and better, I would be open to it.

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