The sports capital programme operated by my Department consists of the recreational facilities and the major facilities schemes. The recreational facilities scheme assists voluntary community organisations in providing, improving and equipping recreational, leisure and community facilities. The major facilities scheme is a multi-annual capital programme for major sports facilities at national, regional and local level.
In February last, the present programme was closed down and all applications received up to the closing date were examined. In the light of this assessment, grants totalling £5.95 million were allocated to a number of projects around the country, a list of which I will forward to the Deputy.
In the context of the 1998 round of allocations, I announced that I was initiating a comprehensive review of operation of the sports capital programme. The review of the programme has been ongoing in my Department for the past few months and I expect that it will be completed very shortly. Once the review is completed, details of the new programme will be widely publicised and it will then be open to clubs and organisations to apply for funding under the new programme.
The annual grant scheme for national governing bodies of sport (NGBS) administered by my Department provides funding for 75 recognised NGBs to assist with the cost of administration, international competition and training, international events and meetings, organisational development, and equipment. The aim of this scheme is primarily to assist the NGBs' ongoing efforts to increase participation in sport, especially amongst the young, people with disabilities, communities in areas of disadvantage, and women; and to promote standards of good conduct and fair play.
A list of the national governing bodies of sport which receive funding in 1998 under this scheme is also attached.
The international carding scheme for high performance player/athletes was launched in May 1998. The scheme replaces the outstanding sport-spersons grant scheme operated by the Department of Education between 1986 and 1997.