Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 890: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a grant was withdrawn to a sportsclub (details supplied) in 2009; if he will provide this Deputy with a copy of the initial grant and the conditions attached to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34629/12]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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DLRCC/Mount Merrion Youth FC Ltd. was provisionally allocated a grant of €200,000 towards pitch development under the 2006 Sports Capital Programme. The letter of provisional offer stated that all relevant documentation should be submitted to the Department for approval at the earliest possible date and a substantial amount of work on the project should be completed to facilitate the draw down of the grant by 30 September 2007. It also stated that the Department retained the right to withdraw the grant offer after that date without further notice.

The organisation did not submit any of the documentation outlined the letter of provisional offer. In April 2008 DLRCC wrote to the Department advising that the project had run into "legal and planning difficulties" and that the Council would not be proceeding with the project at that time. In the April 2008 letter the Council further advised that they would "consider the provision of an all weather pitch ..... at some stage in the future". In April 2009 the Department wrote to DLRCC advising that as it was not in a position to comply with the Guidelines, Terms and Conditions of the Programme, the grant allocation was withdrawn. I have asked my officials to forward the Deputy a copy of the original letter of provisional allocation.