Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 456: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount spent to date under the culture, recreation and sport measure of the national development plan; the amount estimated to be spent by the end of the NDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34272/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Arts and Culture Facilities Sub-measure, funding is provided for commissioning new infrastructure or enhancements of existing infrastructure for the arts and in particular integrated arts centres, theatres, museums and galleries as well as arts studios and other arts production, creative and performance spaces. The spend to end 2005 under this sub measure is just over €18m. The anticipated spend to the end of the NDP is over €35m.

Under the Sports and Recreational Sub-measure, funding was to be provided to local authorities and where appropriate to voluntary and community organisations, towards the provision or upgrading of sport and recreational facilities, to meet the needs of the Regional Gateways, identified in the National Spatial Strategy. There has been no expenditure to date under the Sports and Recreational Sub-measure.

However, considerable investment in sporting infrastructure has taken place through the Sports Capital Programme operated by my Department. Since 2000, almost €437m has been allocated to 5059 sports facilities throughout the country. Under the Sports Capital Programme, significant funding will continue to be allocated to the provision of facilities at local level by sports clubs and community groups, to the development of a range of municipal multi-sports centres and to a number of national facilities.

Furthermore, the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme has provided some €60m to nineteen completed swimming pool projects, and a further sixteen projects are under construction.

It is envisaged that further expenditure in respect of the Sports Capital Programme and the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme will take place this year, details of which are set out in my Department's Estimates.