Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will explain the weighting given to clubs located in disadvantaged areas when allocating sports grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22664/07]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the criteria used for the allocation of sports grants to football clubs (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22665/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 317 together.

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 2007 Sports Capital Programme was advertised in the national press in October 2006. The closing date for receipt of completed applications was 24th November 2006. Over 1,530 applications were received for the programme and provisional allocations totalling €85 million were made to 935 projects on 5th April last.

When assessing applications, my Department uses eleven criteria to evaluate applications, some of which are more important than others and are weighted accordingly. The Department scores each application according to how well it meets these criteria. These criteria and weightings are reviewed in advance of each programme and can be subject to change. In answer to the Deputy's specific question, these criteria apply to all sports equally.

When assessing projects, the Department may also consult with other Government Departments, local authorities, the Irish Sports Council and National Governing Bodies of Sport, particularly in relation to regional and national projects, before a final decision is made.

In relation to the geographical location of an applicant, organisations that can prove they are located in any of the recognised disadvantaged areas of CLAR, RAPID or in a Local Drugs Task Force Area are awarded extra points under one of the eleven assessment criteria. In addition, applicants from disadvantaged areas only have to provide evidence of 20% minimum local funding as against the 30% requirement for all other applicants.

Further details in relation to the 2007 programme are contained in the Guidelines, Terms and Conditions which are available on my Department's website — www.dast.gov.ie. The date of the next round of the Programme has not yet been decided. As in previous years, advertisements announcing the next round of the Programme will be placed in the national press and application forms will be available at that stage.