Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of funding allocated by his Department under the sporting, recreation or community grant schemes in the year to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9454/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he expects that his Department's policy can best be directed to assist growing communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9461/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the extent to which his policy is directed to encourage the development of local community support facilities such as community centres or theatres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9470/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 244, 248 and 251 together.

My Department provides funding for the provision of sporting, recreational, arts and cultural facilities throughout the country.

The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, is the major source of funding available for the provision of sporting facilities for sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The types of projects funded include indoor sports halls, community sport facilities and sports playing surfaces, changing rooms and shower facilities available for the usage of individual clubs and community organisations.

The programme is advertised on an annual basis. A total of over €331 million in sports capital grants have been allocated to 4,273 projects under the programme since 1998. No allocations have yet been made in respect of the 2005 sports capital programme, for which applications for funding were invited through advertisements in the press on 5 and 6 December 2004. The closing date for receipt of applications was 4 February 2005. A total of 1,362 applications were received and are currently being evaluated against the programme's assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. I intend to announce grant allocations under the 2005 programme as soon as possible after the assessment process has been completed.

Under the local authority swimming pool programme, which is administered in conjunction with the local authorities, €3.8 million has been allocated in 2005 towards the construction of a public swimming pool in county Monaghan.

No funding has been allocated in 2005 in respect of the ACCESS scheme for arts and cultural facilities. However, a total of €45.7 million has been allocated to 44 projects since the inception of the scheme to provide for arts and cultural facilities, including theatres.

All the funding provided by my Department is aimed at the development of sports, arts and cultural facilities by clubs, local communities and volunteer groups. In the case of the sports capital programme, priority is given to the development of facilities in disadvantaged areas. The criteria under which projects are assessed take account of local demand and are aimed at achieving a balanced geographical spread of funds to benefit all types of eligible projects in all categories. They also take account of the need for an integrated approach to the provision of facilities at local level. In the allocation of funding under the local authority swimming pool programme and the ACCESS programme, the focus is also on the provision of facilities for local communities.

I am satisfied that under the programmes referred to in the reply, which are targeted primarily at local communities, opportunities exist for community groups to develop facilities which contribute to a vibrant community ethos.