Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 377: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of applications for capital lottery funding received by county for the past five years; the number of successful applications per county for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20530/06]

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

The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national levels. The programme invites applications on an annual basis.

The number of applicants and grantees offered provisional grant allocations for each county under the sports capital programme for the period 2001-2005 is contained in the attached schedule as requested. In relation to the 2006 programme, the closing date for receipt of applications was January 20th last. A total of 1,338 applications were received. All of these applications are currently being evaluated against the programme's detailed assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. I intend to announce the grant allocations for the programme as soon as possible after the assessment process has been completed. The number of applications by county under the 2006 sports capital programme is as follows.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 378: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the mechanisms to be put in place or are in place to assist those successful in their applications for capital lottery funding but who have been unable to draw down their allocation. [20531/06]

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

Under my Department's sports capital programme, grants are allocated to sporting and to voluntary and community organisations for the provision of sporting and recreational facilities and equipment. Through sports capital funding, the Government has provided unprecedented levels of funding for sport and its infrastructure in this country, e.g. since 1998 a total of 4,923 such projects have benefited from €394.8 million in grant allocations.

From the outset, on applying for a grant under the programme, all applicants are issued with the Guidelines, terms and conditions in relation to the Programme to ensure that they are fully aware of all requirements in applying for a sports capital grant and, even at that stage, of the requirements for drawing down a grant if their application is successful.

Following the announcement of provisional allocations under the programme, grantees are informed in writing by my Department of the full range of requirements in order to draw down the grant. The mechanisms in place for the drawdown of grant payments are in keeping with standards of good practice in relation to the provision of Government funds to assist in the development of capital projects. However, should any grantee have any difficulties at any stage of the drawdown process, officials in my Department are available to them to assist and advise them.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 379: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his Department have received an application for lottery funding under the sports capital programme 2006; when he plans to make an announcement on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20437/06]

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

The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national levels.

Applications for funding under the 2006 programme were invited through advertisements in the Press on November 27th and 28th last. The closing date for receipt of applications was January 20th 2006. A total of 1,338 applications for projects costing €670 million and seeking funding of €312 million were received, including one from the organisation in question. All of the applications are currently being evaluated against the programme's detailed assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. I intend to announce the grant allocations for the programme as soon as possible after the assessment process has been completed.