Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will explain the reason he rejected funding applications under the sports capital programme for public sports facilities in disadvantaged Rapid areas in the south inner city (details supplied); if he will meet with a delegation from the local community to discuss this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8966/13]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This question relates to applications under the Sports Capital Programme 2012. The programme prioritises the needs of disadvantaged areas. Of the €31 million allocated under the 2012 programme, 41%, or €12.6 million, was allocated to projects in designated disadvantaged areas.

When the 2012 programme was advertised my Department issued a detailed guide to filling out the application form which set out the Department's minimum requirements. Regrettably, the applications referred to by the Deputy did not meet these requirements and hence were deemed invalid and could not be considered for funding.

The first application referred to was in respect of a project costing €1.05 million and did not include a feasibility study, which is a requirement under the programme for projects costing more than €700,000. In addition, the estimate provided by the quantity surveyor did not provide details of the works to be carried out. The other two applications were invalid for the following three reasons: the applicants did not provide the Department with evidence of title to the property to be used for the project; an acceptable quotation was not provided; and the application form did not include an original signature as required.

A letter setting out the reason the applications were deemed invalid has been sent to the applicants. Owing to the number of applications received, it is not possible for me to meet individual delegations. If the applicants require further information or clarification they should contact the sports capital programmes unit of my Department in Killarney.

The Sports Capital Programme 2012 is now closed and all moneys under this round have been allocated.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister of State will be aware that Willie Pearse Park, Crumlin, St. John Bosco Football Club, Brickfield Park, Drimnagh and Bushy Park in Terenure belong to Dublin City Council. The fact that these are public facilities makes them of high value to the local community. A variety of clubs and sporting organisations in the area use the facilities on a weekly basis for boxing, soccer and Gaelic games. The local community works tirelessly with Dublin City Council and sporting clubs in the area in an effort to secure funding for the various projects. Furthermore, despite that this area of Dublin is one of low socioeconomic status and is densely populated it has only one youth centre and three community centres. Sporting organisations, clubs and young people in the area are highly dependent on over-used and badly in need of repair sporting facilities.

Is the Minister of State aware that Brickfield Park is the only public park of its size in the entire Inchicore-Drimnagh area?

Is the Minister of State aware the local community groups and sporting clubs wanted to submit two separate funding applications under the sports capital programme, one for an all-weather pitch and another for draining at Brickfield Park, but in an attempt to maximise success Dublin City Council decided to submit the drainage application only? As this was refused, it meant the local community ended up with nothing. It is disappointing the Minister of State will not meet a delegation from the local community group. Is he prepared to commit to meeting me in the near future to further discuss the matter?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In the ten years this country has had funding for sports, this year was the first that more than 40% of the money was allocated to disadvantaged areas. The invalid applications submitted meant we could not allocate more funding to disadvantaged areas or to Dublin. I would not and did not accept invalid applications. The officials in the Department went through and adjudicated the applications and no invalid application came before me. We allocated funding in Dublin and anywhere we had an opportunity to do so, particularly in disadvantaged areas. More than 50% of the 2,137 applications were invalid. I have received requests from throughout the country to meet groups and I would need a bus to bring them back and forth every day. I will never have a problem meeting the Deputy.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State has met a fair scatter of them.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of the local community groups and sporting clubs in the area. I am delighted the Minister of State is prepared to meet me. Will he give an undertaking to embark on an information campaign regarding specifically targeting the sports capital programme at clubs and organisations working with disadvantaged people in disadvantaged areas?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The new forms will make it easier for organisations to submit applications. I reduced the local contribution which must be made in disadvantaged and CLÁR areas. I did everything in my power to target funding to disadvantaged areas, but the criteria had to be met. To be fair to the officials, when they sent out the criteria for the programme they also offered clubs and organisations a service whereby they could telephone the office in Killarney to speak to officials and go through the applications prior to their submission. The officials were prepared to do this. Every effort was made to make it easy for organisations because most of them work in a voluntary capacity. I respect this which is why I reduced the contribution required from disadvantaged and CLÁR areas and tried to make it easier. I was delighted that for the first time in ten years more than 40% of the allocation went to disadvantaged areas. I stated before the allocations were made that I wanted to target disadvantaged areas and I did so. Every valid application submitted from Dublin received funding, but a number of organisations in disadvantaged areas submitted invalid applications. If those applications had been valid they would have been considered for funding.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Does the Minister of State accept that many clubs got it wrong?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Yes.