Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the extent to which he has had discussions with all sporting authorities in the context of meeting ongoing funding requirements; his intentions in this regard in 2008 or future years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5287/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 349: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his proposals to directly assist by way of capital allocation or otherwise, the various sporting disciplines in 2008; the main sports expected to benefit under these or other headings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5288/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 350: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the extent to which he and his Department has provided capital grants or other grant aid to the various sporting bodies, directly or indirectly, in the past 12 months; the extent to which he proposes to do so in 2008; if he proposes changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5289/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 to 350, inclusive, together.

Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The 2008 sports capital programme was advertised on 13 & 14 January last and the closing date for receipt of applications is 29 February for paper-based applications and 7 March for on-line applications. Applications are accepted from all recognised sports and the level of funding allocated under the programme to each sport depends on the range and quality of applications received in any given round of the programme. All applications received before the deadline will be 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.

Under the 2007 sports capital programme, €85 million was provisionally allocated to 935 sporting organisations. These allocations were announced in April 2007. I should point out to the Deputy that current funding to sporting bodies is allocated by the Irish Sports Council, the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion and development of sport in Ireland. Finally, as the Deputy will appreciate, I meet sporting organisations on a regular basis and funding availability is often one of the items under discussion.