Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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39. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has made a decision as to whether sports capital grants will be made available for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22490/16]

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Have the Minister and his colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, made a decision as to whether to release the sports capital grants for 2016, and will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I know Deputy O'Keeffe has submitted practically the same question. Deputies will be aware that the sports capital programme is the Government's primary vehicle to support the development of sports facilities and the purchase of sports equipment. They will also be aware that there was no round of the sports capital programme in 2009, 2010 or 2011. There were, however, rounds of the programme in 2012, 2014 and 2015. Almost 1,600 applications were received under the 2015 round of the programme, evidence of its ongoing importance. No decision has been taken on the timing of the next rounds of the sports capital programme. Work is, however, ongoing on simplifying the online process to make it easier for applicants.

I know that there has been something of a mini-hysteria about this recently. I point to the fact that in the programme for a partnership Government there is a commitment for an annualised sports capital programme, and the Minister, Deputy Ross, and I are committed to the content of the programme for Government in that context. I met recently with officials from the Department in Killarney in this regard, and the Minister, Deputy Ross, and I are actively pursuing this issue. As soon as a decision is made on the 2016 programme, which I hope will be soon, I will be in communication with Deputies.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister of State said that the programme for Government was committed to an annual programme. "Annual" means yearly. We are now in 2016, we are heading into the summer recess this week and there is a state of confusion among sporting clubs right across the State as to whether the funding is available. The Minister of State said that there were 1,600 applicants last year, which will give him an understanding of the level of interest in the sports grant application process. He will also recognise how valuable these sports grants are to sporting clubs right across the State, particularly to sporting clubs and groups in disadvantaged areas. I am sure he will also agree that these grants help to promote health and well-being and community spirit. I wonder is it a case of stalling until it is too late in the year to announce it? When I asked about this at the transport committee meeting, the Minister, Deputy Ross, said that it was a political decision between him and the Minister of State. Given that the programme for Government states that the Government will consider this annually, when will the Minister of State say whether he will announce it for this year? If he has no intention of doing so, will he say so, in order that sports clubs do not go blind watching to see whether the funding will be available? They should be given enough time to get their applications in order and submitted. A bit of clarity would not go astray. We are into July.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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With the agreement of the House, I will give Deputy O'Keeffe a minute. I have a little discretion. If he wishes to make his case, we will give the extra minute for it so that Deputy Munster does not lose out.

Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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I will make a brief follow-up in support of the previous speaker. The severe delay in the allocation of sports capital funding is now a major concern for various sports clubs and organisations that have been waiting for investment to progress with plans and proposals to upgrade or develop facilities for some time. It is critical that the Government build on the many years of investment in this area. As the Minister has indicated, he relaunched the scheme in 2012. Many clubs, on the basis of having submitted an application on the first day, have now progressed plans to move on further. The Minister of State also created the air of uncertainty. He said he would take a special interest in this. Judging from his response to a previous parliamentary question, I am sure his colleagues below in Killarney received a rush of expressions of interest. Even that has created an air of uncertainty. From a political point of view, it has to be acknowledged that money has been allocated to the Department. If it is not spent this year, does the Minister of State propose to spend it on other sports capital projects through various other channels?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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To take the last point first, I would be very slow to withdraw any grant that has been allocated to a sporting club because, as Deputy O'Keeffe knows, many sporting clubs have difficulties regarding planning permissions and the matching of funding. I certainly would not accept the suggestion that we withdraw money that has already been allocated.

The only state of confusion seems to be among certain members of the Opposition. I could not make it clearer that no decision has been made on this issue and that both the Minister, Deputy Ross, and I are committed to it. I point to the years 2012 onwards in that regard. The timeframe in which any allocation or announcement would be made allows the potential for something to happen in 2016. The only confusion and uncertainty out there is, I think, generated by people who almost hope in a way that we might not be able to do it. Our aspiration is that we will be able to do it. The clubs are certainly looking for it, and individual sporting organisations have over the last number of months been engaging with the Department on an online basis anyway. Ongoing assistance is available from the Department for people who are preparing applications and they should continue in that vein.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I will still allow Deputy Munster her minute; she is entitled to it, as it was her question initially.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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What a silly response to say that the only confusion is with the Opposition.

There is confusion with sporting clubs and groups which have been waiting anxiously for the Minister to announce funding. Will the Minister release the grants or not? If he is going to do so, what is the delay in coming forward with an announcement, or is it the case that he has absolutely no intention of doing so and instead is trying to draw out the year and then announce the grants for 2017? Sporting groups and clubs across the State will be extremely disappointed if the Minister has not released the grants. That would be mean-spirited and short-sighted. It was included in the programme for Government as an annual scheme, so this will be the Minister's first broken promise.

Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to clarify one point. I did not say the Minister was withdrawing money from clubs that have received it, but there is an allocation of sports capital funding from the Department. If it is not going to be spent this year through the sports funding scheme, does the Minister propose to make money available through other mechanisms within his remit directly to the governing bodies or other sports organisations?

It is all very fine to say that clubs can put together development plans. However, as the Minister knows, if someone applies for a home loan, the bank may grant a mortgage but the house must be purchased within a certain timeframe. Nowadays these plans are compiled by professional individuals, including consultants, which cost money. There is a timeframe concerning the validity of such development plans, so every month that goes by it is costing these clubs money.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I remind Deputy O'Keeffe that in the worst days of the economic crash, in 2009, 2010 and 2011, the last government was able to reintroduce the sports capital programme. We did so because we realised that this is a labour activation measure in many rural and urban communities. It really makes a difference to clubs. Nobody on this side of the House needs to be told about the programme's value because we are well aware of it.

Deputy Munster said she was waiting for an answer, but this is the third time I have said that no decision has been made. I do not know which part of the term "no decision has been made" cannot be understood. We are only in July and there are still five months of the year left to run. The programme for Government is clear. The Minister, Deputy Ross, and myself have a commitment to ensure that the elements in the programme for Government concerning the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport are adhered to and will be delivered. The Deputy might be disappointed later on in the year.

As regards previous allocations made under this programme from 2012 to 2015, the Deputy will find that the timeframe was not too different from what we hope to achieve.