Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 923: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of grants and the funding that has not been drawn down by clubs in each of the past three years; the reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29373/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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A total of €200.09 million has been allocated to 2,183 projects in sports capital grants in the past three years, i.e. 2004-2006 inclusive. I announced provisional grant allocations under the 2006 sports capital programme for local projects on 6th June last and national, regional and municipal/multipurpose projects on 12th July. A total of €75 million has been allocated under the programme in 2006 to 797 projects. At present, 789 of those grants totalling €74.91 million are not fully drawn down. Given the short time frame since the grants were announced the low level of draw down at this point would not be unusual and it will be well into 2007 before many of the organisations grant-aided will be in a position to complete their works or draw down their allocations.

In 2005 a total of €63.24 million was allocated to 645 projects. At present, €43.34 million of that funding has to be drawn down and no payment has been issued in respect of 416 of the projects grant-aided. In 2004 a total of €61.75 million was allocated to 740 projects. At present, €27.81 million of that funding has to be drawn down and no payment has been issued in respect of 223 of the projects grant-aided. As a major part of the ongoing work of the sports unit in my Department, many of the outstanding grants referred to above are being progressed to the point where the final quarter of the year will see their partial or full payment.

I can confirm also that almost the entire annual provision for sports capital grants in my Department's subhead has been spent in each of the last three years, 2003-2005 with grant payments totalling €198.31 million in that period.

On the finalisation of the list of projects to be funded under the Programme grantees are informed in writing by my Department of the full range of requirements which must be met in order to draw down the grant. These requirements are outlined in the published Guidelines, terms and conditions of the Sport Capital Programme. Ultimately, it is a matter for the grantee to comply with these requirements before the grant can be paid.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 924: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of applications received by his Department for skateboard facilities; the number of successful applications; if he has received an application from Athy Town Council in regard to such funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29374/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, is the primary means of providing Government funding for sports facilities. Two applications requesting support for the provision of skateboard facilities were received under the 2006 Sports Capital Programme. One was given provisional approval while the other which was for a multipurpose sports project which included a skateboard park was not.

Prior to 2006, one grant of €100,000 was allocated under the sports capital programme in 2004 towards the provision of a skateboard park by Dublin City Council. Four other applications received during that period were unsuccessful.

The Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, introduced a scheme in 2005 specifically for the provision of skateboard parks by local authorities, through which local authorities may submit proposals for funding same.