John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to raise the issue of sports capital funding. There is much speculation as to when an announcement will ultimately be made on it. The announcement of it was moved to the new year. We have been able to maximise the level of funding available to sports clubs as a result of that. Therefore, it was a welcome move. Clubs are contacting me, as I am sure they are contracting every Member, weekly seeking an update on their sports capital application. There are issues in terms of drawdown under previous applications where difficulty has arisen with respect to title in which the Chief State Solicitor's office has to be involved. I have raised this issue previously. I know the Department wanted the maximum amount of money drawn down prior to Christmas but an impediment to that in part has been the slowness in dealing with these issues in the Chief State Solicitor's office, which needs to be addressed.I believe it needs to be addressed but that is a wider point.

We need certainty in regard to when the sports capital grants will be announced. It involves many clubs in my county of Waterford across a whole host of areas. As a former PE teacher, I fully see the value of investment by the State in local clubs that do so much fantastic work with youths across the sphere. We cannot but compliment the volunteers involved in all of those clubs who give of their time freely for the benefit of others. I want to put that on the record of the House today.