asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether any grants are available from EEC sources to help in the provision of sporting facilities, club pavilions, or community halls; and, if so, if he will furnish details of same.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Recreational Grants.
26.
No grants are directly available from EEC funds to assist in the provision of sporting facilities, club pavilions or community halls. However, the Department of Education operate a temporary youth employment scheme under which young people are recruited to work on certain projects beneficial to the community and the majority of these projects provide for the building of dressing rooms, clubhouses, community centres and other sporting facilities. Financial assistance has been obtained for this scheme from the European Social Fund in 1979 and in 1980 and an application for aid in 1981 has been filed. £213,345 was granted in 1979 and an amount of £124,000 has been approved for 1980.
Certain sporting facilities linked to the development of tourism in Border areas may be aided under Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2619/80 of 7 October 1980 providing for aid for border areas from the non-quota section of the European Regional Development Fund. The special programme to implement this regulation has not yet been approved by the Commission.
Does the Minister see any prospects of extending the type of aid he mentioned under the non-quota section to the rest of the community?
The non-quota section relates to cross-Border projects only. We got the funds from that section for that purpose.
Is the Minister halving the amount of moneys available from the social fund?
No, that is only for a particular scheme under the social fund. The approved amount was £213,345 in 1979 and £124,000 in 1980. That is only a scheme relating to young people working on certain projects.
Is the Minister saying that he is halving it?
There is not halving. It is subject to application.
Are all applications accepted?
That is right.
Has the Minister been able to get the applications in?
It is not a very important scheme.