Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

871. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the grants available to voluntary organisations for acquiring new equipment in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7246/16]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

​The Sports Capital Programme which is administered by my Department is the Government's primary vehicle for supporting the development of sports facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment. In every round of the SCP voluntary organisations can apply for grants for sports equipment. A list of all such allocations is available at  .

No decision has been made on any future rounds of the Sports Capital Programme.  Any interested group should register now on as this will be the only way to apply under any future rounds of the Programme.  

In addition, my Department administers an annual Coastal Inshore Mountain and Cave Grant for a number of voluntary bodies, 12 mountain rescue bodies and 12 community rescue boat organisations. They include Mountain Rescue Ireland, the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation (ICRO) and the Search and  Rescue Dog Association (SARDA).

The purchase of equipment is considered eligible expenditure under this grant.

It should be noted that mountain rescue groups are not tasked directly by the Irish Coast Guard, rather they are tasked by An Garda Síochána, under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.