Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

14. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will invite applications for the next round of the sports capital programme; if there will be changes to the terms and conditions of the programme and the application process from the last round; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46976/13]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

18. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects to invite applications for the next round of the sports capital programme; if there will be changes to the terms and conditions of the programme; the application process from the last round; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47060/13]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

32. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects to invite applications for the next round of the sports capital programme and if there will be changes to the terms and conditions of the programme and the application process from the last round; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46981/13]

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

41. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects to invite applications for the next round of the sports capital programme; and if there will be changes to the terms and conditions of the programme and the application process from the last round. [46899/13]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

44. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when applications will be accepted for the next round of the sports capital programme; and if there will be any changes to the terms and conditions of the programme and the application process from the previous round. [46852/13]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

45. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will invite applications for the next round of the sports capital programme; if there will be changes to the terms and conditions of the programme and the application process from the last round; if special consideration will be given to those applications which were unsuccessful in the last round; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46980/13]

Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

46. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will invite applications for the next round of the sports capital programme; if there will be changes to the terms and conditions of the programme and the application process from the last round; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46970/13]

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

49. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects to seek applications for the next round of the sports capital programme; if there will be any changes to the terms and conditions to the previous programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46974/13]

Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We all know of last year’s fantastic success of the sports capital grant programme. No doubt, the Minister could have had three times the moneys involved but it still would not have covered all the applications. I welcome the Department’s decision in the budget to release another round of grants this year. Does the Minister see any changes to the application process this time? When should applications be in and decisions made on them?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 18, 32, 41, 44 to 46, inclusive, and 49 together.

I welcome the decision to provide funding for a new round of the sports capital programme, SCP. It demonstrates this Government's understanding of the value of sport from both an economic and health perspective. Sports capital funding is essential for the provision of modern fit-for-purpose facilities that provide opportunities for people to participate in sporting activities across the country. The 2012 round of the SCP saw a record number of applicants, indicating a continuing high demand for such grants.

Departmental officials are working on the details of the new programme, including any changes to the terms and conditions. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement before the end of the year.

My Department has developed a new portal on the Department's website which must be used by organisations to register, to apply for funding, when the programme is open for applications, and to manage the drawdown of any new grants allocated after 2013. The portal also has a growing knowledge base of information on all aspects of the SCP. Any interested organisation should register on www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie.

Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister’s reply. From the last round of grants, one issue that arose came from clubs whose applications were deemed invalid. Is there any way the Department could streamline the system to help organisations to get their applications in completed and on time? As the Minister knows, there is never enough money to give out. There are clubs up and down the country which want to get access to this funding. It is important when a club is putting together an application, it is done in way that it has the best opportunity to gain access to the funding.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Connaughton for his comments. This time around there will be changes to the application process. As I said earlier, a new website has been set up. Any club intending to make an application should now register on it. We are looking at the last round to see how the process can be improved. In the last round there were 2,171 applications. We are now trying to streamline it. The difficulty that arose was for those clubs whose applications were deemed invalid. We are hoping with this round that, through this new website, we might be able to tell those clubs if their applications are invalid earlier and not to progress with it.

This is the second round of the grants in the lifetime of this Government in very difficult economic times. I compliment my senior Minister and everyone in the Department. We are delighted we got the funding again. We are hoping to have the application process open by the end of the year.

Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply to Deputy Connaughton’s question. I compliment both Ministers present for bringing around a second round of sports capital grants. In these particular times, it is terrific we are able to invest in sport in our local communities. The last round was a success albeit there were some teething issues. All applicants in Dublin city and county were successful which is extraordinary considering the number of applicants as outlined by the Minister.

I am pleased there is a second round. I know many of my colleagues were eager to notify their local clubs about this which I have done already. It is just a matter now of making sure the process is bulletproof, as robust as possible and as clear and simple as possible. This will ensure when clubs apply online that they will be 100% certain their application is valid before it gets to decision-making time which is where the problem was with the first round.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the provision of funding for this new round of sports capital grants. The confirmation is very timely.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In time for the local elections next summer.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is but Deputy Dooley will appreciate that County Clare got eight hurling players on the All Stars team which was announced earlier this morning. I congratulate them for this achievement. It demonstrates the value the Government places on sports. The Clare victory in this year’s All-Ireland hurling final gave the county’s people and economy a huge lift.

Does the Minister intend to change the terms and conditions of the second round of sports grants? When will it be launched? The last scheme had a standard per county grant as well as a regional grant. Will the Minister confirm if this will be the same again this year?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Farrell is correct about the applications from Dublin because of invalid applications, every valid application naturally succeeded. It was an unusual situation. This time we will make it easier for applications. These are voluntary groups so we want to assist them to make the best applications. The last time we put dedicated officials on three or four different counties for organisations to contact.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It was probably confined to Mayo people.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This time these details will be available on the website. We will make it as easy and as fair as we can.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Deputy Joe Carey on Clare on winning the All-Ireland hurling final, my colleagues here on Dublin winning the All-Ireland football final, my other colleagues on Sligo Rovers winning the FAI cup and the Department’s Secretary General on St. Patrick’s Athletic winning the FAI league,

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

And Mayo?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There will be some changes to the application process but we have not decided on them yet. We want to get the second round announced as soon as possible. We will make it easier as we learned from the previous round. My staff in Killarney will be there to assist applicant clubs in any way they can.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do not want to rain on the Minister’s parade in terms of the allocation of the funding. While it is welcome, it comes from the national lottery so it depends on people playing it every week and the Government will be selling the licence in the future. It is wrong we do not have an annualised sports capital programme. I welcome the fact the Minister argued for a second round this year. However, it is deeply unfair the way the Department of Finance takes moneys from the national lottery, which was set up for funding sport, elements of education and certain provisions in the health service, as some form of general taxation.

That is wrong, and I hope the Minister wins the battle to ensure the moneys generated through the national lottery are provided for sport on an annual basis. The level of funding that went into sports capital projects, particularly in County Clare, has enhanced the capacity of teams to perform at the level they need to in this environment.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Do not forget North Dublin, though.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the sports capital grants. I am trying to figure it out. The national lottery is where we normally got funding for sports projects, but it is being sold off and so much is going to maintenance, construction and road capital projects as well as sports. Will there be an initial surge in capital grants for sports as a result of that sale and how much money is planned to go to sports? Have we safeguarded the national lottery in terms of continuously giving proper returns so we can put them towards the sports organisations?

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

When does the Minister expect the money to be allocated? How much does he think will be allocated? Some say the allocation was successful last time. It was for some, but most of the money in Wexford went to a privileged few. This time, would it be possible for people to find out if their applications are not as perfect as they should be, which would give them a second chance to rectify any inadequacies? Last time they found out afterwards. It looked as though it was possible for anybody to be refused. The application was very technical and it was almost impossible to tick every box perfectly. This allowed some cherry-picking as to who received it.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I listened attentively to all the stories of sporting success in counties Sligo, Clare and Dublin. It is important not to leave out Jason Quigley's success in Donegal and the Minister's commitment to boxing. He is an advocate for the lesser sports that have not been up there in the national media as much over the years. I compliment him on that. In light of his strong reputation and communication with local authorities and my own local authority, does he see a role for the county council officials to work with his officials in assisting smaller clubs that do not have expertise in making applications or money for consultants to make applications?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I agree with Deputy Dooley. The Minister for Finance takes that money in and there is no such thing as national lottery money any more. Like every other Department we must go to the Department of Finance and fight for our budget. Deputy Dooley is correct. That is why the national lottery was established. It is being sold, but I hope we receive a substantial amount of that money for sports capital funding. We do not know yet what funding we will receive for sports capital projects. We will determine that with the Estimates in the next number of weeks.

We received 2,171 applications and we had €26 million for local schemes and €5 million for regional schemes, so we were never going to satisfy everybody. The one thing I am proud of is that for the first time ever we did it on a pro rata basis so that every county got its fair share of this funding. Deputy McHugh is correct; however, I do not see a role for local authorities. I would love if every Deputy could come in and pick what they wanted, but that will not happen.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thought that was what the Minister did last year.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Irish Sports Council, the local sports partnerships and the Deputies would all like to allocate the money, but the Department will do it and we will do it as fairly as we did last time. No matter what we do, we cannot satisfy every group.

Deputy McHugh is correct about boxing, which has enjoyed great success over the last few years. We gave boxing €1.2 million two years ago and €1 million this year to go down to grassroots boxing, and as Minister I am very proud of that. That is why boxing is progressing so well, and those involved deserve it because they have worked so hard. They bring in young people and take them off the streets and I compliment them on the job they do. I am delighted with that scheme.

We assisted the local authority swimming pool scheme and worked with the local authorities on multi-use games areas. Since we came into office we have spread the money. We have worked with communities, local authorities and State agencies. The good news is that we will have a second round. I agree with Deputy Dooley that the national lottery funding for sports and arts should have been left in place. We had no round of funding from 2008 to last year. This will be the second round in the lifetime of this Government.