Vol. 405 No. 2
102 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the person who makes the decision as to which applications to his Department for funds from the national lottery receive finance; the grounds on which such decisions are made; the reason organisations for women and girls are allocated such a minute proportion of total funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
£13.65 million has been allocated in 1991 to my Department, funded from the national lottery, for the following: Amenity projects and recreational facilities, £9 million; local authority library service, £3.15 million; swimming pools, £1 million; communal facilities in voluntary housing schemes, £0.5 million.
The Minister for the Environment is responsible for the allocation of grants under each of these schemes. As explained in reply to Questions Nos. 4, 7 and 78 of 26 April 1990 and in my contribution of 19 June, 1990 (Column 282et seq of the Official Report) to a Private Members' motion, allocations under the amenity and recreational facilities grants scheme take account of the desirability of the proposed work, the cost effectiveness of the project and the employment which may be expected to result. Regard is also had to the need to distribute available funds on an equitable basis to all areas of the country. Grant allocations are also designed to provide varied opportunities of enjoyment to all sections of the community.
Proposals for both libraries and swimming pools are made by or through local authorities and are assessed by my Department — in the case of libraries, following consultation with An Chomhairle Leabharlanna and, in the case of swimming pools, having regard to the Department's guideline specification for swimming pools. Criteria for the payment of grants under the new scheme for communal facilities in voluntary housing projects are being developed at present.
