Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will confirm that his Department is processing an application from a body (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21063/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. Since 1998, over €725 million has been allocated to over 7,400 projects across the country.

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 2008 for paper-based applications and 7th March 2008 for online applications. Allocations were announced at the end of July 2008. The Department did not receive an application from the organisation in question.

No decision has been made on the timing of the next round of the Programme.

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when a lottery grant will be granted to a club (details supplied). [21345/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Grant allocations are subject to the terms and conditions of the Sports Capital 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. The Department's legal adviser, the Chief State Solicitor's Office (CSSO), deals with the grantee's solicitor in executing this Deed. My Department was notified by the CSSO on 25 May that certain legal matters are still outstanding. The CSSO wrote to the grantee in question on 21 May outlining the legal items outstanding. Formal approval of the allocation in question is not possible until the CSSO notifies my Department that all the legal issues relating to the allocation are completed.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 298: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position in relation to the draw-down of a sports capital grant by a club (details supplied) in County Cork. [21358/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The organisation in question has been allocated €476,184 under the programme since 1998 - €76,184 in 1999, €200,000 in 2002 and €200,000 in 2006. Both the 1999 and 2002 grants have been drawn down in full.

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. The Department's legal adviser, the Chief State Solicitor's Office (CSSO), deals with the grantee's solicitor in executing this Deed. My Department was notified by the CSSO on 25 May that certain legal matters in relation to the registration of charges for previous grants are still outstanding. Formal approval of the 2006 allocation is not possible until the CSSO notifies my Department that all issues relating to charges are completed. A priority agreement is also awaited from the club's solicitors.