Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to an application to his Department under the sports capital funding by a club (details supplied) in County Galway; if his attention has further been drawn to the benefit this club is to both boys and girls over a wide area; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that part of the proposal is to construct an astro turf surface which will provide greater opportunities for young people to train; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the club caters for children with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9023/07]

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. 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 before the deadline, including one from the organisation in question, 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.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will sanction funding to a group (details supplied) in County Mayo. [9034/07]

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. 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 before the deadline, including one from the organisation in question, 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.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the grants available from his Department for the provision of skateboard parks; the number of such grants drawn down in the past two years; the amount of funding involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9066/07]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, provides funding for sports facilities and equipment at local, regional and national level throughout the country. Funding is allocated to voluntary, sporting and community organisations, to local authorities and, in some circumstances, to schools and colleges. The programme is advertised on an annual basis.

In regard to applications for skateboard facilities under the sports capital programme, only three applications in total were submitted between 2004 and 2006 and two of these were provisionally allocated grants totalling €165,000. None of this funding has been drawn down to date. The closing date for the 2007 sports capital programme was November 24th 2006. No applications for funding of skateboard facilities were submitted under that programme.

The Deputy should note that my colleague, the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. Dick Roche TD, introduced a specific scheme in November 2005 for the provision of skateboard parks by local authorities, through which local authorities may submit proposals for funding same.