Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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455. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding avenues that are available through her Department which could assist a sporting organisation with the purchase of land, particularly where a club does not currently have a ground of its own and there is a proven need within an area. [1909/23]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to my Department's responsibilities, the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Grants are available to sports clubs, voluntary and community groups, national governing bodies of sport, and local authorities.

While the Programme funds a broad range of projects, the Programme does not fund the purchase of land or buildings. Full details of the Programme and the type of projects funded can be found at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie . It should be noted that applications can be submitted by any sports club for sports equipment even in cases where they do not own land. In addition, clubs who do not own land or have a registered lease can apply for capital funding of up to €50,000 provided the owner of the land confirms that he/she has no intention of taking the facility from the club for a minimum of 5 years.

A separate tax relief scheme for donations to sports clubs may be used by any sports club or organisations to assist in funding the acquisition of land or a building, developing facilities or purchasing fixed non-personal equipment for sports activities, or repaying a loan for any of these purposes. More information in this regard can be found at: www.revenue.ie