Vol. 382 No. 9
asked the Minister for Education if she will favourably consider an application for funding from the proceeds of the national lottery from the Athy branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association, County Kildare; if her attention has been drawn to the very important work undertaken by the association; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
238.
asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the full extent of the services provided by the north County Kildare branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association; whether there is a need to expand and extend these services; if she will favourably consider an application from this association for funds from the proceeds of the national lottery; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 and 238 together.
I am aware of the excellent services being provided by the north County Kildare and Athy branches of the Irish Wheelchair Association and indeed the excellent services being provided by the association on a national basis.
Where it is not open to my Department to provide financial assistance for sports initiatives to local branches of the association, grant-aid is allocated to the sports section of the Irish Wheelchair Association at national level. In 1988 under the scheme of annual grants to national governing bodies of sport a grant of £18,000 has been allocated to the sports section of the association to assist towards the costs of coaching, administration, equipment and special projects designed to increase participation and improve standards in wheelchair sports.
A grant of £15,000 is also allocated by the Department to the Irish Wheelchair Association on an annual basis towards the cost of employing a sports administrator.
A grant of £7,000 is allocated annually to the Irish Wheelchair Association to assist towards the cost of employing a development officer.
