Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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27. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he expects to be in a position to make allocations under the capital sports programme in the course of 2017; the date on which such allocations will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30129/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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This question relates to the possible imminence of an allocation of sports capital grants in the current year with a view to meeting, to the best extent possible, the requirements of the applicants.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I will begin by thanking Members of this House and the Seanad for their good wishes on my recent appointment as Minister of State in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. I look forward to working with Members of both Houses and the Minister, Deputy Ross, for the betterment of tourism and sport. I also compliment my predecessor, Deputy O'Donovan, on the work he did in this Department.

I thank Deputy Durkan for his question. It is a very important programme. Earlier this year, the programme was opened and closed in February to applications. There were a huge number of applications - 2,320 - seeking grants to the value of €155 million. There is a budget of €30 million. If the Deputy knows his Bible, the loaves and the fishes story comes to mind straight away. There is huge demand on this programme. I am trying to find a way to ensure we can grant as much funding as possible to as many clubs as possible. The Department is very busy at present processing the applications. I understand that as of 23 June, about 88% of applications have been processed. Very shortly we hope to be in a position to begin the allocation process. It will most likely be after the summer recess, possibly September, before we are in a position to announce the outcome of the programme.

We have seen a huge amount of investment in it throughout the country since 1998. Some €911 million has been granted in sports capital allocations since 1998. The mark of the programme is clear to see throughout the country with the infrastructure that is there. It is something that is in the programme for Government that we hope to continue on an annual basis because we know it is having a real impact on participation levels from the grassroots right up to elite level. It is very worthwhile.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It is the first time I have had an opportunity to congratulate the Minister of State on his appointment to the position he is now in and to his colleague on his reappointment. I wish them both very well and assure them plenty of active co-operation from me and, I am sure, every other Member.

What is the extent to which the reduction of the technical knockouts from the system can be isolated whereby applicants are disqualified at the last minute? They have little recourse and their disappointment knows no bounds. I do not know if it is possible but I am asking that, in so far as is possible, it be dealt with in a way that reduces the extent of the disappointment that we, as public representatives, have to face afterwards.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I fully understand the Deputy's concern about the rates of invalidation. In previous rounds, the rates were typically one third, which is far too high. It was addressed somewhat in this programme. We expect the rates will be down to about one fifth, which is progress. It is still something we need to do more on. I am aware of it as someone who is involved in grassroots sporting organisations. Through our role as public representatives, we have a lot of contact and are aware that an invalidation causes terrible disappointment and upset, and in some instances turmoil, within clubs. The most disappointed people I have engaged with in the context of the sports capital programme have not been people who were unsuccessful but who have been invalidated. Perhaps in future we will be able to do more to ensure the rate of validation can be as close to 100% as possible. We expect to see a much improved situation this time. This means there are more valid applicants for the same pot. We will still be heavily oversubscribed but it is to be hoped the situation will be better on that front this time.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister of State be in a position to give credit for effort in rewarding the various applicants? In some cases, some local bodies, groups and organisations put in a huge effort locally to raise the necessary funds at local level to make an application which helps to make it possible for them to proceed with their proposed project. In many cases, such efforts are not recognised. We recognise that everyone has to be treated in kind, but nonetheless special mention needs to go to those who make the particular effort to do what is necessary in their area.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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The role of volunteers in our sporting organisations at grassroots level is very often overlooked, and such a role is important to sport in this country. Without the volunteers and the grassroots, we do not get the elite athletes and sportspeople coming through. What I and the Minister, Deputy Ross, would like to see at the heart of the sports capital programme is volunteers, who are behind the vast majority of these sporting applications, being happy with the outcome. That is why we are trying to find a way to satisfy as many applicants as we can and to try to give as much meaningful funding to them that we possibly can within the constraints we are operating in. We are looking at ways of doing that at present. We want as few people as possible to be disappointed at the conclusion of this process. It is hoped that can happen. I cannot state enough how important the volunteers behind these applications are and without whom we could not have sport in any meaningful way in this country.

Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his succinctness and for sticking to the time.