Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 35: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the need to provide extra grant aid to fund community based and financially assisted local initiatives involving the provision of youth services such as community centres, drop in centres and indoor facilities with the objective of providing positive alternative outlets for teenagers throughout the country having particular regard to the growing number of negative influences and their impact on young people; if he will take a strategic decision to implement such a policy to a far greater extent than has been the case heretofore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31652/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 92: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if, in the course of the allocation of capital grants by his Department, he will give special consideration to areas experiencing rapid population expansion with a view to enhancing the availability of such facilities for young people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31842/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 99: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if through the various support schemes available through his Department he will give special consideration to areas of rapidly expanding population with a view to meeting social needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31849/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 100: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the extent to which he or his Department have become involved in the allocation of capital grants for the provision of community based facilities organised by groups involved in local initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31850/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 92, 99 and 100 together.

My Department provides funding for the provision of Sporting, Arts and Culture facilities at local level. The criteria used for the allocation of such funds includes the likely level of demand for the facilities in question. Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, grants are allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country for the provision of sports facilities, including indoor sports facilities.

Eleven criteria are used when assessing local applications. The Department scores each application according to how well it meets these criteria. In this context, the assessment takes into account the current and planned levels of sports facilities in an area, the impact the proposed new facility will have on participation in sport as well as the priority of the proposed facility in relation to existing facilities. In this regard, the requirements of communities with increasing populations that are in need of enhanced facility provision are taken into account. There is also a focus on areas of disadvantage.

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. Furthermore I should maintain that in the period 2003-2006 grants to the value of €243.87m have been allocated to projects under the Sports Capital Programme.

While no date has been set for the 2008 Programme, advertisements announcing the next round of the Programme will be placed in the national press and application forms will be available at that stage. Applicants who feel that they have a project that meets the Guidelines, Terms and Conditions of the programme are free to apply at that stage.

Under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, which is also administered by my Department, grant aid is provided to local authorities towards the capital costs of a new or replacement public swimming pool or the refurbishment of an existing pool provided by local authorities themselves or by other bodies where the application for capital funding is supported by the local authority. Where a project is being undertaken by an organisation other than a local authority, the proposal must be considered, supported and submitted by the local authority. Before supporting such a project, the local authority would have to be satisfied that the proposal is viable, that the balance of funding required to complete the project is available and that the project when completed, would have a suitable level of public access.

Under the current round of the programme, the question of the location of public swimming pools is essentially a matter for local authorities. Projects are considered on a case-by-case basis and consideration is given to such issues as to whether the area is classified as disadvantaged, the number and geographical spread of similar projects within and between counties, the viability of the project, particularly in relation to operational and maintenance issues, overall funding package for the project, technical details and the Department's annual estimates provision for the Programme.

My Department is completing a Value for Money and Policy Review of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme at present. The Report is examining, among other things, how the programme has worked to date and what changes, if any, are required to ensure its effective and efficient delivery. Thereafter, following consideration of the recommendations in the Report, 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. There is a provision of €184m in the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 in respect of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme.

Government Policy on the Arts is set out in the Programme for Government and will be elaborated further in my Department's Statement of Strategy for 2008-2010 which is currently being developed. The objective is to encourage and support the strategic development of the arts in local communities, both geographic and communities of interest, for the disadvantaged and for minority groups. In this regard, my Department has taken a direct role in relation to the provision of grant-aid for arts and culture infrastructure throughout the country and has provided substantial funding for the capital development of facilities in all regions in recent years, having regard to factors such as sustainability and community requirements.

The main vehicle for such capital funding is the Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme (ACCESS), under which over €75 million has been granted to 107 arts and cultural facilities to date, since the scheme commenced in 2001. The ACCESS scheme is a key element in the Government's regional arts strategy and has greatly improved participation in the arts for large numbers of people nationwide. The scheme has been widely acknowledged as a significant intervention in the provision of quality cultural spaces. When applications for funding under the next round of the ACCESS scheme are invited through advertisements in the national press it will be open to any group to make an application, should they have a project that complies with the terms of the programme.

I hope that the Deputies will agree that the programmes operated by my Department are well funded, are sufficiently flexible and accommodating to ensure that local communities are able to continue to ensure that our young people have activities which enable them to make gainful use of their leisure time.