Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 913: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the grants which are available to enable a boxing club to purchase equipment; if they qualify under the National Lottery grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28327/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 920: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the funding or grants which are available to a community group who wish to set up a boxing club; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29271/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 913 and 920 together.

The Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department, is the primary means of providing Government funding for sports facilities. Projects submitting an application to the programme must be directly related to the provision of sport and recreation facilities and be of a capital nature, which, for the purpose of the programme, is defined as:

expenditure on the improvement or construction of an asset and includes any costs directly incurred in this process; and

purchase of permanently based sports equipment, i.e. it is securely housed, and will remain in use for 5 years or more.

The programme, however, does not assist in the purchase of sites, premises or personal equipment, such as sports kits, gloves, shoes/boots or personal protective clothing; nor does it assist in providing funding for administration or running costs.

Under the programme, funding is available to sports clubs (including boxing clubs), voluntary and community organisations and, in certain circumstances, schools and local authorities. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. All allocations under the 2006 sports capital programme have been made, but I intend to invite applications to the 2007 programme shortly and it will be open to the organisation(s) in question to submit an application for funding for equipment and/or facilities under that programme.