Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 289: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason a group (details supplied) in County Kildare has not been allocated the capital sports grant as determined by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3017/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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A provisional allocation to the club in question of €16,250, which includes a Rapid top-up grant of €3,750, towards purchase of racing boats and safety launch was announced in April 2007. My Department wrote to the club on April 24th 2007 verifying the amount of the provisional allocation and the purpose for which it was being allocated and detailing the various requirements in order for the grant to be formally approved and ultimately drawn down.

One of these requirements, which is intended to ensure value for money in the use of taxpayer funding, is that grantees submit to my Department three comparable quotations for each aspect of the project. My Department continues to liaise with the contact for the club in question with a view to confirming the suitability and comparability of the quotes that have been supplied to date. In this regard, my Department has been awaiting further documentation promised by the grantee since November 4th 2008.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 290: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the next round of the ACCESS scheme will be announced in view of the fact that a theatre (detail supplied) in County Tipperary is in need of a refurbishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3028/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 104 of Wednesday 28th of January 2009.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the 2006 sports capital grant for a club (details supplied) in County Dublin will be awarded; and if there are outstanding matters to resolve before the payment is made. [3386/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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A grant of €32,000 was provisionally allocated to the club in question under the 2004 Sports Capital Programme and a further €240,000 was allocated in 2006.

Grant allocations are subject to the terms and conditions of the Programme, which include, for allocations above certain specified thresholds, the execution of a deed of covenant and charge. This places a charge on the grantee's title to the property and is intended to protect the taxpayer's investment by ensuring that the facility remains in sporting use for at least 15 years. Under the Programme, applicants solicitors are therefore asked to confirm that applicants have title to the property in respect of which a grant is being sought capable of securing a charge.

Currently the club in question does not have a lease of sufficient duration to register with the Property Registration Authority or to give undertakings normally required under the scheme in relation to the period of time for which the facility will be maintained in sporting use. The most recent advice on this matter was received from the Chief State Solicitor's Office on 9 January and my Department is currently examining this with a view to determining whether it is possible to progress the payment of the grant in a manner which allows for a prudent level of protection for the taxpayers investment in the facility.