Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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1835. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding can be made available from a special fund for a club (details supplied) in County Cork. [27149/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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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 programme aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to developing sports and physical recreation facilities throughout the country.  ​Under the terms of the SCP, grants are allocated to sporting organisations towards the provision of new facilities, the renovation or extension of existing facilities or the purchase of non-personal sports equipment. A new round of the SCP closed for applications on the 24th February and all of the 2,320 applications received are currently being assessed by officials in my Department.  Given the number of applications received and the detailed information submitted, it will take a number of months to complete the assessment process.  It is expected that an announcement regarding allocations will be made in September.

Outside of the SCP, my Department does not administer any seperate special capital fund for projects such as the one highlighted by the Deputy. The club could apply for funding under any future rounds of the SCP.  It may also be possible for the club to raise funds via the 'Tax relief for Donations to Certain Sports Bodies' scheme (section 847A of the taxes Consolidation Act, 1997). This is a Revenue Commissioners operated scheme which offers tax benefits to individuals or companies who make donations to sports clubs. Further details on this scheme and how it operates can be found on the Revenue Commissioners website.