Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 529: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will support a group (details supplied) in Dublin 5 in 2008. [11586/08]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 530: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will support a club (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [11618/08]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 533: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will confirm receipt of an application from an organisation (details supplied) in County Laois under the 2008 sports capital grant; when a decision will be made on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11774/08]

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 534: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when a decision will be made on an application for grant aid from his Department by an organisation (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11874/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 529, 530, 533 and 534 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.

Applications for funding under the 2008 programme were invited through advertisements in the Press on 13th and 14th of January and the deadline for receipt of applications was 29th February for paper-based applications and 7th March for online applications. All applications received before the deadline, including applications from the organisations 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.

I must also point out that the sports capital programme does not assist in the acquisition of sites or premises. It may be open to the sports organisations to avail of the tax relief on donations to certain sports bodies scheme, established under section 847a of the Taxes Consolidation Act. It allows for tax relief on donations made to approved sports bodies for the funding of sports capital projects, including the purchase of land or premises. In this regard, the organisation should contact the Revenue Commissioners for further information or download the scheme guidelines from www.revenue.ie or www.dast.gov.ie.