Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In terms of checking whether funding is delivering the intended benefits, the Department does check. There is a rigorous process and we take a very hardline view on it. I do not get involved. I let our officials make sure the applications are done properly. The benefits of the funding are clear to see. I am visiting clubs around the country at the moment, seeing all the projects and sports facilities that have come through the sports capital programme, together with local fundraising and voluntary effort. That is important to acknowledge. The number of facilities that have been put together around the country is absolutely astonishing. Last week, I visited Bandon Athletic Club's track. It is an incredible construction project in a relatively small rural town, driven by and fundraised for by the local athletics club, and with significant funding from the Government. There are examples of that right across the country. Kilmessan hurling and camogie club in my county has an absolutely fabulous facility that has been supported by sports capital funding but very much driven by local fundraising.

We have put a special effort into making sure applications are successful. I focused particularly on football and boxing last summer to ensure they had their own procedures in place to help clubs with applications. We want them to be successful. We will not invalidate applications immediately. Each club will be given a chance to rectify any issues. I urge clubs to seek assistance from their NGB, local Oireachtas Member or LSP if any queries arise. They will get a number of chances to rectify issues during the summer. That in itself delays the process a little, which is why the allocations are made towards the end of the summer. We are giving people a second chance. Even under the equipment grants, there were one or two invalid applications in every county for various reasons. Sometimes, they involved relatively simple mistakes.

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