John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the mechanisms to be put in place or which are in place to assist those successful in their applications for capital lottery funding but who have been unable to draw down their allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17632/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I presume that the Deputy is referring to the Sports Capital Programme. 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.

Since 1998 the Programme has allocated over €675 million to over 6,700 projects. This investment has transformed the sporting landscape of Ireland and has allowed the development of sports facilities across the length and breath of the country. Such large scale investments obliges my Department to follow good practice in relation the disbursement of public funds.

Every organisation that is provisionally allocated a grant under the programme receives a detailed letter setting out the terms and conditions that must be complied with prior to the grant being drawn down. These include conditions relating to the submission of comparable quotes, valid tax clearance certificates as appropriate for the grantee and contractors and the putting in place of adequate legal protection for the State's investment. This letter is accompanied by a simple to follow checklist to bring grantees through the draw down process. While the Department is anxious that all grants awarded under the Programme are drawn down in a timely manner it is aware that on occasions delays may occur and in that context officials in my Department are available to assist with any such issues which arise.