Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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562. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a sports capital grant will be reviewed and released (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9935/20]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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The Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country.

The organisation referred to by the Deputy applied for a grant under the 2017 round of the SCP but the application was deemed invalid. Along with other invalid 2017 applicants, the organisation was given a chance to submit corrected documentation under the 2018 round of the SCP. On foot of this corrected application, a provisional allocation was made to the organisation in January 2019 and formal approval issued on 26 May, 2020.

It is a long standing condition of the SCP that grants cannot be provided for work that is either completed or partially completed prior to the issuing of a provisional allocation. This condition is highlighted at all stages of the process.

The organisation recently submitted documentation to receive the funding allocated but this material related to work undertaken prior to the date of provisional allocation. My Department has been in contact with the organisation to reiterate that payment cannot be made on foot of this as it would be contrary to the terms and conditions of the SCP.

While the grant allocation is still available to the organisation, it can only be used for work that accords with the terms and conditions of the SCP and was undertaken after the date of provisional allocation. My Department is happy to engage with the organisation to agree a possible “change of purpose” to the original grant and it is recommended that the organisation contacts the Sports Capital Programme Division in this regard.