Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans to introduce a second round of sports capital grants in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33927/08]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the fact that the sports capital programme gave €85 million funding in 2007, but only €50 million in 2008; his views on whether this cutback will impact negatively on the development of sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33764/08]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of applications for funding that were received in the 2008 sports capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33765/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the funding to date allocated by his Department for the provision of major or minor sporting facilities; the extent to which he expects to provide further funding under these headings in the remainder of 2008; his expectations for 2009 in terms of the likelihood of extra funding from the proceeds of the National Lottery or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34230/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 136, 137, 139 and 280 together.

Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by the Department, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The aim of the Programme is to maximise participation in sport through the provision of modern high quality, safe, well-designed and sustainable facilities and sports equipment. The provision of such facilities allows for increased numbers to participate in sport.

Applications for funding under the 2008 Programme were invited through advertisements in the Press on 13th and 14th of January 2008 and the deadline for receipt of applications was 29th February for paper-based applications and 7th March for online applications. A total of 1,453 applications were received under the 2008 programme. I announced the provisional grant allocations at the end of July and a list of the allocations is available on the Department's website at www.arts-sport-tourism.gov.ie.

In excess of €725m has been allocated in sports capital funding since 1998 to 7,401 sports projects and has supported the provision of greatly enhanced sports infrastructure across the country. I am satisfied that the level of allocation provided in 2008 builds on the very high levels of support provided over the past decade and will further assist in the development of sports facilities. I do not propose at this point that there will be any further allocations under the Sports Capital Programme in 2008. The date of the next round of the Programme has not yet been decided.