Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 302: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position in relation to the drawdown of a sports capital grant by a club (details supplied) in County Cork. [7285/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The grantee in question was provisionally allocated a grant of €200,000 for the development of an all-weather training pitch in 2006. A provisional grant allocation is subject to the terms and conditions of the Programme, which include the execution of a Deed of Covenant and Charge. A Deed 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. My Department has been advised by the CSSO that there are a number of legal matters outstanding in this regard and that it wrote to the grantees' solicitors on February 11 2009. The position at close of business yesterday was that the CSSO had yet to receive a response to its correspondence.

There are a number of additional matters that have to be addressed before my Department can provide formal approval for the project. These were outlined in detail in a letter to the grantee from my Department on July 7 2008 and include, inter alia, the submission by the grantee of quotations for the grant assisted works to ensure that value for money is secured in the use of public funds. The club in question contacted my Department by telephone on January 2 last stating that they would address the matters raised in my Department's July 2008 letter. To date my Department has not received any further contact from the grantee.

In order to progress payment of this grant, the club is advised to respond to my Department's letter of July 7 2008. The club's solicitors should also continue to liaise with the CSSO with a view to addressing all outstanding legal formalities.