Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 279: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the payment of a grant to a club (details supplied) in County Cork under the sports capital grant programme. [11476/10]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The grantee in question was allocated a number of grants under the Sports Capital Programme between 1996 and 2004. The grant allocations are 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. The CSSO wrote to the club's solicitors in relation to this matter most recently on 7 July 2009. The latest update from the CSSO is that no response has been received to that letter.

It is also the case that the Department received additional documentation from the grantee in question in relation to the allocation on 14 July 2009. However, as the Deed of Covenant and Charge is required in order to protect the taxpayers' investment in the project, the Department must await clarification from the CSSO that all legal formalities have been completed before it may consider providing formal approval for the project.