Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 May 1999

Vol. 505 No. 4

Written Answers. - Departmental Expenditure.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

154 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the amounts awarded to date to various groups or bodies from discretionary spending at his disposal, other than funding specifically identified under a particular heading, in the Estimates for 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14070/99]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

Funds provided in the 1999 Estimate for my Department are all allocated to specific subheads, expenditure from within a number of which are subject to specific ministerial approval.

Such subheads include subhead C.1 which relates to grant-in-aid for general expenses of sports organisations and other expenditure in relation to sports activities, and subheads C.2 and C.3 which relate to the provision of grant assistance towards recreational and major sports facilities.

Allocations to sports organisations from C.1 are decided on the basis of recommendations made to my Department by the Irish Sports Council which considers applications in the first instance. The council's recommendations are based on a close and detailed evaluation of applications and are made having regard to criteria for grant approval outlined in my Department's section 15 and 16 reference book prepared under the Freedom of Information Act 1997.

As I indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 501 on Tuesday, 20 April last, allocations for 1999 have yet to be finalised for a number of bodies including the OCI, the NCTC and to the sports governing bodies under the international carding scheme in respect of high-performing sportspersons. Amounts awarded up to end April to bodies and groups from subhead C.1 are set out in the attached schedule.

Meanwhile, almost 1,900 applications are currently under consideration for grant assistance from subhead C.1 and C.3 which together go to make up the 1999 sports capital programme, allocations to be made in accordance with the criteria set out in the term and conditions of that programme. In view of the large number of applications received, and the level of work involved in evaluating them, I do not expect to be in a position to make final announcements on the 1999 round of sports capital allocations for some time yet.

On the tourism side, subhead B.4 provides for tourism marketing initiatives. The purpose of this subhead is to facilitate specific projects or events with clear associated tourism marketing benefits, which are not assisted under alternative funding mechanisms such as the operational programme for tourism, 1994-99.

In 1999 £4.55 million has been provided for subhead B.4. Of this, £2.5 million has already been allocated to Millennium Festivals Limited; £1.05 million to Bord Fáilte for marketing; £0.5 million for the PGA agreement relating to the 2005 Ryder Cup; and the remaining £0.5 million for a special tourism marketing initiative scheme including the tourism sporting ambassador programme, awards from which to date are listed in the following schedule, determined following assessment by my Department in consultation with Bord Fáilte.

Grant allocations from 1999 sub-head C1 to sports organisations up to end April 1999

Bord Luthchleas na hÉireann	273,906
Football Association of Ireland	108,750
Tennis Ireland	178,325
Equestrian Federation of Ireland	136,841
Irish Amateur Rowing Union	199,026
Irish Basketball Association	187,874
Federation of Irish Cyclists	109,755
Irish Hockey Union	71,964
N.A.C.A.I.	92,943
Irish Sailing Association	191,700
Irish Squash	67,785
Cumann Camogaíochta na nGael	53,776
Comhairle Liathróid Láimhe	62,390
Irish Amateur Boxing Association	164,364
Badminton Union of Ireland	82,311
Irish Canoe Union	147,216
Irish Judo Association	48,275
Golfing Union of Ireland	85,000
Irish Ladies Hockey Union	77,500
Irish Amateur Gymnastics Association	57,609
Republic of Ireland Billiards and Snooker Association	34,920
Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland	40,500
Motor Cycle Union of Ireland	22,650
Volleyball Association of Ireland	45,426
Royal Irish Automobile Club	15,998
Irish Cricket Union	30,380
Irish Sports Acrobatics Federation	9,926
Irish Tug of War Association	12,716
Irish Ladies Golf Union	39,590
Irish Surfing Association	22,450
Irish Table Tennis Association	37,787
Ladies Gaelic Football Association	24,394
Irish Ten Pin Bowling Association	6,875
Irish Clay Pigeon Shooting Association	15,986
Racquetball Association of Ireland	7,779
Irish Triathlon Association	7,118
Irish Windsurfing Association	2,244
Republic of Ireland Netball Association	1,850
Irish Olympic Handball Association	9,303
Irish Water Ski Federation	4,569
Irish Water Polo Association	9,763
Bowling League of Ireland	10,950
Irish AmateurWeightlifting Association	5,551
Irish Rugby Football Union	15,000
Irish Women's Cricket Union	6,958
National Rifle and Pistol Association of Ireland	15,356
Irish Amateur Fencing Federation	9,657
Irish Amateur Archery Association	16,700
Irish Baseball and Softball Association	2,640
Irish Amateur Wrestling Association	5,460
Association for Adventure Sports	124,230
Bol Chumann na hÉireann	20,385
Mountaineering Council of Ireland	23,750
Irish Orienteering Association	21,400
Speleological Union of Ireland	4,267
Parachute Association of Ireland	5,725
Irish Federation of Sea Anglers	5,669
Irish Underwater Council	7,222
Croquet Association of Ireland	1,903
Irish Handgliding Association	730
National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland	4,113
Horseshoe Pitchers of Ireland	1,530
Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland	5,000
Irish Deaf Sports Association	23,230
Irish Wheelchair Association	131,333
Special Olympics Ireland	163,095
Irish Blind Sports Association	16,725
Cerebral Palsy Ireland	26,592
Irish Schools' Athletics Association	68,188
National Community Games	129,570
Baton Twirling Association of Ireland	1,020
CUSAI	18,000
Paralympic Council of Ireland	18,000
ILAM	23,750

Special tourism marketing initiatives awarded grant assistance to date from subhead B.4 for 1999:

Project	AmountAwarded
	£
Adrian Maguire – Tourism Sporting Ambassador	21,000
Eddie Jordan – Tourism Sporting Ambassador	100,000
Waterford Adult Education Centre	1,000
Donegal Employment Initiative: Tourism Strategy	50,000
West of Ireland Golf Classic	100,000
Ryder Cup Promotion, Boston	20,000
DSD Graphics – Donegal Good Food & Restaurant Guide	4,000
Patrick MacGill Summer School	4,000
The Lennon Festival, Ramelton, County Donegal	2,000
Total to date	302,000