Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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425. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a decision was taken not to proceed with the sports capital grant 2016; if this decision will be reversed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32563/16]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the Government's primary vehicle to support the development of sports facilities and the purchase of sports equipment.  The most recent rounds of the programme were in 2012, 2014 and 2015.

As was confirmed in the 2017 Estimates Statement, a new round of the Sports Capital Programme will be open for applications in the near future with the announcement of allocations expected in 2017. I expect to announce more details in this regard shortly.

In the meantime it is business as usual for the organisations allocated funding under previous rounds of the Programme and so far this year €21m has been paid out to 645 separate organisations.  These grants have delivered new and improved facilities and increased opportunities to participate in sport in every county.