Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the regional sports measure under the regional OP programme has been activated; if funding has been drawn down; and if not, when he proposes to fund this measure in view of the fact that this current regional OP programme will finish at the end of 2006. [33938/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The sports and recreational facilities sub-measure falls under the local infrastructure priority of the regional operational programmes of the National Development Plan 2000-2006. It was planned that funding would be provided under the sub-measure by this Department to local authorities and voluntary and community organisations to assist towards the provision or upgrading of multi-purpose sport and recreational facilities. The commencement of the sub-measure was delayed until the completion of the Government's national spatial strategy in order to target support in accordance with the implementation of that strategy. The intention was that once the regional gateways were identified under the national spatial strategy, proposals would be invited from local authorities whose administrative areas contain such designated regions and grant aid would be allocated to suitable developments.

In the meantime, very significant funding has been provided through this Department's sports capital programme. Since 1997, €386 million has been invested by the State in 4,900 projects comprising national, regional and local sports facilities. Any of the facilities envisaged for funding through the OP sub-measure have now been supported under the sport capital programme.

Substantial funding for sports facilities will be sought by my Department in the context of the 2006-10 sport capital envelope with the intention of continuing our ambitious programme of the delivery of modern, well equipped and well managed facilities throughout the country, whether under the existing sport capital programme or the sports and recreational facilities sub-measure of the regional operational programmes.