Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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449. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he expects funding to be made available to or through the Olympic Council of Ireland for the provision and improvement of facilities in preparation for the next Olympics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33035/16]

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.

My Department does not provide specific funding to the Olympic Council of Ireland for the provision or improvement of facilities. Facilities are normally developed through the National Governing Bodies of Sport and individual sports clubs and groups. Furthermore, Sport Ireland, through the national sports campus, and the high performance facilities at the Sport Ireland Institute, plays a major role in the preparation of athletes for international competition.

I should also mention that 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.