Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 368: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason for the ongoing delay which is holding up a €200,000 grant to a community development centre (details supplied); and when he will have the matter expedited. [40970/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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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.

A grant of €140,000 was provisionally allocated to the project in question under the 2006 Sports Capital Programme. The grant allocation was subject to the terms and conditions of the Programme, which included the execution of a deed of covenant and charge.

A deed of covenant and charge provides, inter alia, for a refund of the grant in the event of the facility not continuing to be used for the purpose for which the grant was allocated. The Department's legal adviser, the Chief State Solicitor's Office — CSSO — deals with the grantee's solicitor in executing this deed. I understand that the CSSO recently received documentation regarding the case from the solicitors representing the organisation. The documentation submitted has been examined by the CSSO, who last week wrote to the grantee's solicitor requesting further documentation to execute the deed.

The position yesterday (17 November) remained that while the CSSO has received a further response from the solicitors representing the organisation, it still awaits the submission of further outstanding legal documentation.