asked the Minister for Education when he intends to announce the allocation of grants to youth and sporting organisations for the year 1977.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Youth and Sporting Organisations Grants.
4.
The applications for these grants are being examined and it is expected that the allocations can be announced within a couple of weeks.
In view of the representations made by quite a large number of sporting and youth clubs throughout the country would the Minister reconsider increasing the grants this year because inflation is having an effect on the activities of sport and youth clubs?
That is a separate question. I am asked when I intend to announce the allocation of grants.
Deputy Briscoe.
I am giving way to my colleague who put the question down and I will come back again.
The Deputy may not give way. I called him.
I am afraid the Minister is running away from facts.
If the Deputy puts down a question on this I will answer it. He put down a question asking when I intend to announce the allocation of grants. If the Deputy puts down the other question for Tuesday he will get an answer.
I am appealing to the Minister, on behalf of sporting bodies and youth organisations throughout the country, to consider increasing the grants in view of the fact that inflation is having such an effect on sport and youth clubs throughout the country.
I do not think anybody is more conscious of the need to do something for sport and youth organisations than the present holder of the office of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education. It is a proven fact.
Did I hear the Minister say that he would be announcing in a few weeks' time the allocations for this year? This is a little bit difficult to understand in view of the report in The Evening Press of 29th January, 1977.
The Deputy may not quote from a newspaper at Question Time.
I am not quoting. This report asked if the Minister was aware that the Parliamentary Secretary announced on that day that there would be no increase in 1977 over 1976. Is the Minister aware that the Parliamentary Secretary made that statement?
If the Deputy wants to get his information from newspapers there is not much point in putting down questions here and seeking replies from the Minister.
This is a youth organisation magazine which gives a quotation from The Evening Press.
It is improper to display an organ in that fashion.
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy should desist from displaying a newspaper.
Is the Minister aware that his Parliamentary Secretary on 29th January announced publicly to a sporting organisation that they would not be receiving any increase on the grant given to them in 1976? Is the Minister aware of the statement by Councillor Joe Connolly, a member of the Labour Party, who is well-known for his good work for the community games, concerning the disastrous consequences this will have on the community games? He has stated that the figure given last year, £7,000, is totally inadequate for this year.
I have given the Deputy every latitude but he continues to make a speech.
Will the Minister comment on the fact that his Parliamentary Secretary has already announced that there will be no increase this year?
It is easy to give a straight answer to that question. I am not aware of it and, therefore, I will not comment.
I will ask that youth organisation to send the newspaper to the Minister.
Would the Minister give us an assurance that some of the £80,000 unspent over the last three years will be given this year in addition to the allocation to be decided on?
I gave the Deputy the assurance yesterday.
In the light of the derisory allocation given by the Government to these sporting organisations, will the Government consider the possibility of setting up a lottery to provide money for such organisations?
That is a separate matter.
Will the Government consider this proposition?
It is a separate question. The setting up of a lottery would necessitate a lot more study.
Would the Minister encourage me to table a question in relation to that?
The Minister would not encourage or discourage any Deputy from putting down a question. It is the right of all Deputies to elicit information from the Minister concerned by putting down questions.