Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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13. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of sports funding that remains outstanding from previous rounds. [27091/14]

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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The sports capital programme has been very successful, with many groups and organisations benefiting from it. What is the amount outstanding from previous rounds?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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At close of business last Friday the amount of outstanding sports capital commitments was €53 million, as compared with a figure of €71 million at the end of 2012. The corresponding figure at the end of 2008 was €191 million. For a variety of reasons, it can take grantees several years to draw down allocations.  Some of the more common reasons include: delays in finalising the legalities required to protect the State’s investment; delays in the planning process and-or construction and difficulties in raising the required matching funding.

Where delays are excessive or a project has ceased, the Department has sought to withdraw allocations.  This is a labour intensive and time consuming process, although in 2011 it was possible to withdraw €2.8 million of previous years’ allocations from 112 separate projects. Some withdrawals are of a complete allocation where projects are not going ahead, while others may only be for a small amount where projects have been completed and the grantees cannot draw down the remainder of the allocation. Owing to resource issues there was no withdrawals process in 2012 or 2013. However, one grantee was informed in 2013 that an allocation of €500,000 was being withdrawn.

I was delighted to be able to launch the 2014 round of the sports capital programme earlier this year, for which €40 million is available. Applications received under the 2014 sports capital programme are being assessed by officials in my Department.  Every application will be assessed by one official and reviewed by another.  Given the number of applications received and the detail contained therein, this process will take a number of months to complete.  I hope to announce allocations shortly.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Large sums of money remain buried under red tape, while groups wait in anticipation for funding to be released. An office of full-time accountants and lawyers would find it difficult to work its way through some of the red tape involved in this area. Money allocated to one particular club in 2007 has not yet been released, although I understand the Department is awaiting further documentation from Dublin City Council. What does the Minister of State propose to do to ensure money from previous rounds is released as soon as possible?

I must give credit where credit is due. Consecutive sports capital programmes have been a lifeline for many clubs and organisations. Many clubs in my community have benefited from sports capital funding and are awaiting decisions on current applications. The Minister of State has said a decision on allocations this year will be made soon. Will it be made prior to the summer recess and can he ensure any money not drawn down for whatever reason will be freed and used for other projects?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is correct that having €53 million in grant aid outstanding makes it difficult for me to obtain funding from the Government for further rounds. I agree with her that this funding has been a lifeline for sports organisations. There was no scheme in place from 2008 to 2012. The new scheme introduced last year worked well.

On the moneys not yet drawn down, I appeal to those clubs and organisations countrywide that have been approved to receive grant aid and are not in a position to use it to communicate with the Department in that regard because in so doing they are not precluded from making future applications. Many organisations granted funding in the past were unable to secure matching funding because projects were too large. However, clubs are now more realistic.

Many are of the opinion that the staff complement in the sports section in Killarney is huge, but that is not true. There are only a small number of staff in the section and they work very hard. I compliment them on the excellent work they are doing and have great confidence in them. Following up on issues with clubs is very time consuming.

On the last found of funding, clubs and organisations approved to receive grant aid have been given two years from the date of approval - which runs to next January - within which to draw down the funding. Those clubs that do not draw down the funding by that date will have it withdrawn from them. Also, for those clubs undertaking extensive projects, a time extension may be granted. Where no work is done and funding has not been drawn down, it will be withdrawn. In the meantime my officials will examine how the €53 million outstanding can be reduced.