Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the degree to which he intends or expects to offer funding to local community, sporting or recreational groups who provide facilities of a sporting, cultural or recreational nature for the youth at local level, thereby meeting an ever growing need in developing areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5722/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the extent to which he will assist directly with grant aid to promote sporting, recreational or youth clubs in urban and rural areas which currently require such facilities but lack the necessary finances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5926/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of applications received in 2007 from the various art, sports and recreational groups here; the extent to which he expects to meet such requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5931/07]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 106 and 110 together.

The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations who cater for people of all ages at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis.

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 November 24th 2006 and a total of 1,531 applications were received. All applications received before the deadline are currently being evaluated against the programme's assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme.

In the course of these assessments, additional points are given to applications from areas of disadvantage, as designated by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA), namely RAPID, CLÁR and Local Drugs Task Forces. Applicants from these designated areas also only have to provide evidence of 20% local funding as against 30% for applicants from non-disadvantaged areas. Successful sports capital programme applicants from CLÁR and RAPID areas may be eligible for top-up grants from DCRGA. Indeed, over €5 million in additional grants was provisionally allocated by DCRGA to applicants from these designated disadvantaged areas in 2006.

I intend to announce the provisional grant allocations for the 2007 sports capital programme as soon as possible after the ongoing assessment process has been completed.

My Department's ACCESS scheme provides capital grants for arts and culture infrastructure around the country, much of which is community based initiatives.

155 applications for funding were received under ACCESS II 2007 to 2009 and an independent selection committee is currently assessing the applications received. The Committee expects to provide me with recommendations in respect of these applications by March 2007 and I hope to make an announcement regarding the scheme shortly thereafter.

The Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, which is also administered by my Department, provides grant aid for the construction of public swimming pools. My Department is completing an Expenditure Review of the Programme at present. The Review is currently being finalised and it is my intention to publish it as soon as possible. Following consideration of the recommendations in the review it is my intention to launch a new round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme as soon as possible. When the Programme is re-opened, it will be open to all local authorities to submit applications under the terms that will apply.