Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 565: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide replacement funds to County Dublin VEC in order to allow four sports centres in County Dublin (details supplied) to continue to provide sports and leisure services to the local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35454/08]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 570: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will guarantee continued funding for the sports complex at a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; when he will make a decision on such funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35486/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 565 and 570 together.

The halls referred to by the Deputies were built as part of a programme to develop community sports halls in drugs task force areas in Dublin and Cork. The stated objective of the programme was that each hall would be dual use in nature in that they would be accessible to the wider community as well as to the local school population. The intention was that, apart from normal school usage, the facilities would be available as much as possible to the community and, in particular, to target groups such as youth at risk.

An application was made by my Department in 2006 for dormant accounts funding to enable community usage of the halls to commence. Government approval was received in 2007 for the drawdown of funding of approximately €2.1 million in respect of six of the halls, including those referred to by the Deputies. In regard to these six halls, management structures were put in place and community groups were given access.

The position is that the allocated dormant accounts funding will provide for the operation of these halls until the end of 2008. My Department does not fund community facilities but we are in contact with other Departments with responsibilities in this area and will be in contact with the relevant stakeholders as quickly as possible.