Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)

I hope not. Some 2,150 sports clubs and organisations have applied for funding, totalling €224 million. However, there is only €30 million in funding available. This means the Minister will be only able to grant a fraction of the funding being sought. The task of assessing of applications will be difficult. There is no doubt but that there will be many disappointed clubs around the country. However, that is the luck of the draw. Some 60 applications, totalling €4.8 million, which is less than one sixth of the total amount of funding available, have been submitted by organisations in County Louth. I am sure there will be many disappointed clubs in my county too.

I take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Paul Beecher from Tallow County Wexford who was the first Irish winner since 2003 of the famous Hickstead Derby last Sunday evening. Mr. Beecher took the lead in a two horse jump off with a home bred horse. He came thirteenth place last year in the same derby. It is great to see Irish riders feature strongly in the top ten finishers. While, unfortunately, we do not have an equestrian team at the London Olympics-----