Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 342: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the capital sports grant will be awarded to an organisation (details supplied) in County Mayo. [26319/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The organisation in question was provisionally allocated €70,000 on 21 July last under the national lottery-funded 2005 sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department. It had also previously been allocated funding of €19,046 in 1997 and €63,487 in 2000. In addition, the organisation may receive a top-up to the 2005 grant from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs as the project is located in a designated disadvantaged area, being located in a CLÁR region. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, will be announcing such top-ups in the near future.

While the organisation has submitted most of the documentation required to draw down its 2005 grant, it is aware that a deed of covenant and charge must be executed by my Department's legal advisers, the Chief State Solicitor's Office, CSSO, before grant payments can be made. The requirement for such a deed is standard practice in regard to State funding and provides for a refund of the grant in the event of the facility not continuing to be used for the purpose for which the grant was allocated. The CSSO is in contact with the organisation's solicitors to progress the execution of the deed of covenant and charge, following which my Department will be in a position to progress payments to the organisation in question.