Tom Barry (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on any potential national funding streams for sporting and community organisations in 2011. [8959/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by the Department of Transport, Tourism, and Sport funding is allocated towards the provision of sports facilities at national, regional and local level. It is the primary vehicle for promoting the development of sports and recreational facilities in Ireland. The Programme has transformed the sporting landscape of Ireland with improved facilities in virtually every village, town and city. The facilities funded range from new equipment for the smallest clubs, to regional multi-sport centres and national centres of sporting excellence.

Over 7,400 projects providing a range of essential sports facilities have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998 bringing the total allocation in that time to over €739 million. These grants continue to play a pivotal role in ensuring the provision of modern, high quality facilities around Ireland that attract more people to participate in sporting activities.

It is a common misconception that the Programme has been discontinued. While a new round of the Programme has not been advertised since 2008, the Programme is in fact very active and €33 million has been provided in the Estimates this year for the payment of grants for the provision of sports and recreation facilities by clubs and sports bodies allocated grants in previous rounds. No decision has yet been made about the timing of further rounds of the Programme.