Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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978. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the supports that will be put in place to ensure the continued existence of the sporting groups in Columb Barracks, Mullingar, County Westmeath should the ownership of the site be transferred for development. [9537/20]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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Under the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) my Department provides funding at local, regional and national level to sporting clubs and organisations, voluntary and community organisations, local authorities and, in certain circumstances, schools/colleges towards the provision of sporting facilities and the purchase of sporting equipment. The Department does not provide direct financial assistance towards the operational costs of sporting facilities.

The SCP has previously provided funding to a number of sports clubs based at Columb Barracks and it is a condition of the Programme that facilities funded remain in sporting use for a minimum of 15 years in the case of capital works and for a minimum of 5 years in the case of sports equipment funded under the programme. If any clubs based at the Barracks have concerns about their ability to comply with the terms and conditions of the SCP I would recommend that they contact my Department to discuss.