I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 28, 30, 35, 41, 46, 47, 60, 74 and 128 together. The sports capital programme provides national lottery funding towards the provision of sports facilities at national, regional and local level. It is the primary vehicle for promoting the development of sport and recreational facilities in Ireland and comprises the major facilities and the recreational facilities schemes. The major facilities scheme is a capital programme for major sports facilities and the recreational facilities scheme assists voluntary and community organisations in providing, improving and equipping recreational, leisure and community facilities.
There is a provision of £9 million in this year's Estimates for my Department for grant expenditure under the capital programme compared with the £5 million provided in 1997. At the end of 1997 overall capital commitments outstanding under the sports capital programme amounted to £15.7 million to be met in 1998 and subsequent years on satisfactory completion of projects in accordance with current terms and conditions of the programme. In addition, there were some 1,100 grant applications on hand at the end of 1997 on which a decision, even regarding matters such as eligibility had not yet been given, some dating back as early as 1994. Against that background I considered it a priority to have completed an examination of all applications currently on hand, including those received up to 5 p.m. today, to be considered in the context of the 1998 round of allocations.
When the assessment and allocation of funding to existing applications under the programme has been completed, I have asked my Department to also initiate a comprehensive review of the operation of the sports capital programme. That review will be undertaken in the context of the formulation of policy for sport and recreation, in line with the commitments in the Government's Action Programme for the Millennium, including the proposed establishment of a statutory Sports Council. It will involve examination of the objectives, terms of reference and criteria for the scheme and will have regard to the emphasis in the Action Programme for the Millennium on the role of sport and recreation in combating disadvantage. I expect the review to be completed later this year and when it is details of revised schemes will be widely publicised. It will then be open to clubs and organisations to apply for funding under the new schemes. The arrangements for the new schemes will have regard to the Government's commitment to provide a quality customer service.