Bernard Allen
Question:383 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the reason the funding to Bol Chumann na hÉireann has been reduced by 25 per cent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7012/99]
Written Answers. - Sports Funding.
Bernard Allen
Question:385 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the 1999 allocations to national governing bodies of sport; and the level of allocations in 1998. [7014/99]
Bernard Allen
Question:386 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the reason the Irish Ladies' Golf Union received no increase in its administration grant for 1999. [7015/99]
Bernard Allen
Question:389 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the reason the grant made available to the Irish Blind Sports Association for administrative purposes is being held at 1998 levels; and the reason the association is only receiving 25 per cent of the allocation requested for its involvement in the International Festival of Sport and the International Golf Open for the Blind. [7018/99]
Bernard Allen
Question:390 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the reason the Irish Ladies' Golf Union received only a fraction of the grant applied for towards international competition and training. [7019/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 383, 385, 386, 389 and 390 together.
Allocations to national governing bodies of sport are decided on the basis of recommend ations made to my Department by the Irish Sports Council which considers the applications in the first instance. The council's recommendations are based on a close and detailed evaluation of applications received from each of the national governing bodies and are made having regard to the criteria for grant approval outlined in my Department's section 15 and 16 reference book prepared under the Freedom of Information Act, 1997.
As allocations for a number of national governing bodies are still being finalised, I am unable to provide the Deputy with a full list of 1999 allocations. Furthermore, as the organisations about which the Deputy has asked specific questions are currently being advised of the grant level for 1999, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to publicise the level of grant for any organisation in advance of the organisations themselves being formally advised in the first place.