Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport her plans to reintroduce the sports capital programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36638/10]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport when the sports capital budget will be reopened; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36693/10]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if she will provide an indication as to when new funding will become available for local sports facilities in light of the commitments outlined by the Government Infrastructure Investment Priorities 2010 to 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36795/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 34 and 44 together.

Under the Sports Capital Programme, funding is allocated to sporting and to voluntary and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. Given the current budgetary situation and the high level of outstanding commitments it was considered prudent to pause prior to announcing the next round of the Programme and accordingly no date has been set for the next round of the Programme. In the interim, the Department has been managing the drawdown of funds allocated under earlier rounds of the programme, and there is obviously no question of rowing back on allocations already made. The current position remains that €48 million has been provided in the Department's vote in the 2010 Estimates to cover payments to be made from the C1 subhead, out of which grants are paid for the provision of sports and recreation facilities.

Around 1,000 payments will be made to projects being undertaken this year across the country. These projects will allow clubs to drain pitches, erect floodlighting, build changing rooms and sports halls and generally increase the opportunities for people to engage in sports at all levels. The Deputy will be aware that since 1998, €730m has been allocated 7,400 projects nationwide which has transformed the level of sports facilities throughout the country.