Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount awarded or spent by his Department for various projects throughout the country from the proceeds of the national lottery in 2006; the extent to which he expects to allocate such grant aid in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5925/07]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The sports capital programme, which is national lottery funded and is administered by my Department, is the primary means of providing funding to sporting clubs and organisation and to voluntary and community organisations towards the provision of sporting facilities at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis.

In 2006 I allocated a total of €91.84 million to 859 sports capital projects at national, regional and local level throughout the country.

The 2007 sports capital programme was advertised in the Press on October 15th and 16th last. The closing date for receipt of applications was November 24th 2006. 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. I intend to announce the grant allocations for the programme as soon as possible after the assessment process has been completed.

I will decide on the level of provisional grant allocations to be made this year having regard both to the quality of the applications received under the 2007 programme and the pattern of grant allocations and drawdowns on foot of earlier years' approvals.