asked the Minister for Education if he will approve a face-lift grant to Coolarne badminton club, County Galway.
Written Answers. - Face-Lift Grant Scheme.
114.
The face-lift grant scheme, operated by my Department, is specifically designed to assist youth organisations to improve their facilities. As Coolarne badminton club was regarded as not specifically a youth organisation it was deemed not eligible for assistance under the face-lift grant scheme.
The decision on this application was notified in writing to the club secretary last May, subsequent to a similar advice which issued from the Minister for Labour to the Deputy in response to representations he had made in the matter.
My Department has since been advised of the possible involvement of a local youth organisation in the proposed project. Accordingly, my Department will be in correspondence with the project organisers to determine the nature and extent of youth organisation involvement in the proposal which may qualify it for consideration under the face-lift grant scheme. It must be stressed, however, that such correspondence would be purely exploratory and should not be assumed to suggest the allocation of financial assistance at some future date. Given a satisfactory outcome to my Department's inquiries, this project would be considered for assistance, along with other outstanding applications, in the context of whatever funds may be made available for the extension of grant-aid under the scheme to further projects in the coming year.
There are no funds currently at my disposal from which assistance could be provided to Coolarne badminton club in respect of its proposed project.