Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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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. It is open to any sporting organisation with a suitable project to apply to my Department for funding under the Sports Capital Programme.

The Irish Sports Council is the statutorily established body with responsibility for the provision of funding to National Governing Bodies of Sport and National Associations towards programme activities.

The 2008 programme was advertised 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, 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 am delighted that the Community Games National Finals have found a new home in Athlone. My Department, through allocations under previous rounds of the Sports Capital Programme, has allocated significant funding to the sports facilities where the games will be held.

As the Deputy will be aware, current funding is a matter for the Irish Sports Council.