Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 458: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason the closing date for the sports capital funding under the national lottery is the end of November, when it has been February for the past number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34567/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis.

The 2007 round of the sports capital programme was advertised on Sunday 15th and Monday 16th October last with a closing date for receipt of applications of 24th November next. The reason for an earlier advertising of the Programme and an earlier closing date for the receipt of applications is that the new timeframe should result in a consequent earlier announcement of provisional grant allocations under the programme. In recent years the allocations under the Programme have tended to be made around the middle of the year and in many cases, the mid-year grant announcement has delayed the progress of projects, with the timing of the commencement of work often is often crucial, e.g. in relation to pitch development.

I believe an earlier closing date and an earlier announcement of provisional grant allocations will result in more organisations being able to develop their projects in the same year as they are announced and will lead to a more efficient programme in terms of the delivery of facilities and the drawdown of funding.