Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 183: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will support a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5 in their application for floodlights on their grass pitch. [40752/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national levels. Applications for funding under the 2007 programme were invited through advertisements in the Press on October 15th and 16th last. The closing date for receipt of applications was Friday last, November 24th. I can confirm that an application in the name of the organisation in question and a second organisation was received prior to the deadline.

All of the applications will be evaluated against the programme's detailed assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. I intend to announce the grant allocations for the programme as soon as possible after the assessment process has been completed.

For the Deputy's further information, the circumstances under which projects involving schools can be funded are as follows:

where the application submitted for funding is a joint application from the school and a local sports club or community group;

where the application shows a clear need for the proposed sports facility in the area, as formally agreed with other local groups and/or the local authority;

where the local community will have access to the proposed facility for a minimum of at least 30 hours a week throughout the year when it is not being used by the school or college itself

and finally, of course where the application meets the general guidelines, terms and conditions which apply to all applications under the programme.

As the Deputy is aware, responsibility for funding of school sports facilities rests with the Department of Education and Science, and the number of school-related applications to my Department's sports capital programme is relatively low. For example in 2006 out of a total of 1,338 applications, only 30 were school-related and, of these, 12 projects were successful and were allocated a total of €1.4 million in funding.

I can assure the Deputy that any school-related applications received under the 2007 sports capital programme which meet the necessary conditions and which would clearly increase sports participation and fill an identified gap in the level of sporting facilities in that community will be given every consideration for funding.