David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the initiatives in place to improve local sports facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18955/11]

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. While no new round of the Programme has been advertised since 2008 the Programme is still very active with €33m provided in 2011 to fund existing allocations. I am looking at the options available to me with regard to a new Programme within the present financial constraints but no decision has been made about the timing of future rounds of the Programme.

Under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, which is administered by my Department, grant aid to a maximum of €3.8 million is provided to Local Authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. Since 2000, 58 projects have or are being dealt with under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme of which 46 have been completed and the other 12 projects are at various stages of the Programme. The €6.65m allocated for 2011 will be sufficient to meet commitments this year under the current round of the Programme.