Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs if the Leader programme can provide grant aid for sports clubs wishing to expand their facilities for the benefit of their communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39283/10]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has or will allocate funding for the provision of playgrounds in rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39284/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 62 together.

The Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 has funding of €425m available to be allocated to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013. One of the objectives of the RDP is to identify and provide appropriate cultural and leisure facilities to local communities that would not otherwise be available to them. In principle, therefore, it is possible that the provision of playgrounds and the expansion of sports club facilities for the benefit of rural communities would be eligible for funding under the RDP. The Deputy should be aware, however, that the mainstream activities of sporting clubs and organisations are not eligible under the RDP. Any improvements made to club facilities with assistance from the RDP must be available for the use of all members of the community.

There are 36 Local Action Groups contracted on my Department's behalf to deliver the RDP throughout the country and these groups are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the local development strategies of the individual groups and in line with my Department's operating rules and EU regulations.