Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 449: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 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]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 450: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 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)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 449 and 450 together.

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.