Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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413. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will confirm that he has approved a grant of €250,000 to a sports club (details supplied) in New York; the terms of this grant; if it is funded from current or capital expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6912/15]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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416. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a legal charge will be required on a sports club (details supplied) in New York, to safeguard the taxpayers' grant-aid of €250,000, as would be required for a similar grant award to a sports club here; and the way this might be registered and enforced, if required. [6915/15]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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417. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the verification and inspection process he has put in place to ensure the integrity of the grant award of €250,000 to a sports club (details supplied) in New York. [6916/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 413, 416 and 417 together.

On 12 January the Minister for the Diaspora, Jimmy Deenihan T.D., announced that the Government was providing funding of €250,000 to the GAA for Shannon Gaels GAA Club in New York to develop the underage playing field in Frank Golden Park, Queens.

This funding marked a contribution towards the capital costs associated with the redevelopment of the facilities at Shannon Gaels, one of the fastest growing GAA clubs in the United States which has 600 members, half of whom are children. Funding for the redevelopment has also been secured from New York City and GAA HQ.

The funding was provided from the Emigrant Support Programme of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which supports Irish communities overseas and facilitates the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. This project achieves an important objective in engaging the next generation in strengthening their ties to Ireland.

This grant was provided on a once-off, 12 month basis. In line with existing procedures associated with grants for capital projects, additional conditions were attached to this grant, most notably restricting the disposal of assets funded for a number of years. In addition all grant recipients agree to provide both narrative and financial reports detailing how the grant has contributed to the achieving the key objectives of the Emigrant Support Programme.

As part of the Emigrant Support Programme, a planned programme of audits is in place to ensure the continued quality of the projects and programmes funded.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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414. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of funds available to his Department in 2014 and allocated for 2015, to grant aid sports clubs based outside Ireland. [6913/15]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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415. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if advertisements were placed, inviting sporting clubs based outside Ireland to apply for grant-aid for the development of their sporting facilities; if he will confirm where these advertisements were placed; the number of applications received; the criteria used to adjudicate on these applications; the total number of successful applicants; and the total amount of money allocated. [6914/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 415 together.

The Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), which is administered by my Department, provides funding to not-for-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas. The focus of the Emigrant Support Programme is on initiatives that address the needs of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable Irish emigrants; enhance access for Irish emigrants and Irish community organisations to local statutory and voluntary services; foster a more vibrant sense of community and Irish identity amongst the Irish abroad; and encourage closer links between Irish communities abroad and Ireland, to the benefit of both.

In 2014 the budget for the ESP was €11,595,000. Some applications for funding from sporting clubs and organisations are received under the Capital and Heritage headings. All funding applications are made through an online process on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.

In advance of the 2014 grant round, advertisements were placed in a number of Irish community newspapers abroad, in the UK, Australia and Canada. In the United States, our Embassy in Washington DC and network of Consulates, as well as the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centres, were used to promote awareness of the grant round. Social media and other means were also used by our Embassies and Consulates to advertise the opening of the grant round.

Fourteen applications were received during the 2014 ESP grant round in respect of sporting clubs/organisations based outside Ireland. The 2015 grant round is currently open so details for 2015 are unavailable as yet. The overall ESP budget for 2015 remains at €11,595,000.

The following is the breakdown of funding allocated in 2014: