Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the supports available from his Department or from tourism and sporting agencies funded by his Department for the development of an equestrian centre. [7073/07]

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. Projects seeking support under the programme must be directly related to the provision of sport and recreational facilities and be of a capital nature.

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. All applications received by the deadline are currently being evaluated against the programme's assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme.

It is open to any project that meets the eligibility criteria to apply under the next round of the programme. I should point out that the programme is primarily directed at voluntary and community organisations and is not intended to fund wholly commercial enterprises.

Of the €800 million allocated to the Tourism Programme of the National Development Plan 2007-2013, €317 million will be invested in enhancing our tourism product and infrastructure in accordance with Fáilte Ireland's recently launched Tourism Product Development Strategy for the period to 2013, and in delivering a National Conference Centre in Dublin. That Strategy proposes, inter alia, that certain key products provided by the private sector, such as equestrian facilities, should be supported. It is expected that the roll-out by Fáilte Ireland of measures to give effect to the Strategy will commence shortly.

As provided by Section 8 (1) of the National Tourism Development Authority Act, 2003, it is a matter for Fáilte Ireland to encourage, promote and support the development and marketing of tourist facilities and services within the State. Accordingly, any decisions to be made in regard to funding for individual projects is a matter for Fáilte Ireland.