Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will include provision for grant aid for sporting organisations for solar energy conversion to substitute for oil, gas and electricity under the sports capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15154/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, is the primary means of providing funding to develop sporting infrastructure at local, regional and national level. Applications under the programme are accepted from sporting and voluntary and community organisations and, in certain circumstances, from schools and local authorities. Applications under the programme are assessed in accordance with a detailed set of criteria covering the main objectives of the programme. Successful applicants must submit evidence, which is examined by our technical supervisors — the Office of Public Works, showing that the project complies with building regulations.

The primary purpose of the sports capital programme is to assist clubs and organisations to provide good quality indoor and outdoor sports facilities which enable and encourage people to take an active role in sport and physical recreation, increase participation and raise standards at all levels of sport in Ireland. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate to provide assistance towards solar energy conversion systems from funds voted specifically for the development of sport and physical recreation.