Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 1159: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the acute shortage of football pitches for local clubs in the Swords area of north County Dublin; if he proposes measures to address this shortage in the immediate future; if, in particular, his attention has been further drawn to the challenges faced by a club (details supplied) with respect to the lack of facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30603/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has no direct role in the provision of land for local sports facilities. Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, funding is allocated to assist voluntary and community organisations, national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport, VECs and local authorities to develop high quality, safe, well-designed and sustainable facilities in appropriate locations and to provide appropriate equipment to help maximise participation in sport and physical recreation.

The programme does not provide grants towards the purchase of land, sites or premises. Many of the organisations and sports clubs in the Dublin area that have made application under the programme are based on lands made available by local authorities and the organisation in question should in the first instance raise the issue of the availability of pitches in its local area with the appropriate county council.