Vol. 516 No. 1
118 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the assessment, if any, he has carried out of the amenity and recreational means at Maynooth, County Kildare, with a view to meeting the increasing requirements of this growing population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7193/00]
119 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the assessment, if any, he has carried out of the amenity and recreational means at Clane, County Kildare, with a view to meeting the increasing requirements of this growing population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7194/00]
120 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the assessment, if any, he has carried out of the amenity and recreational means at Kilcock, County Kildare, with a view to meeting the increasing requirements of this growing population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7195/00]
121 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the assessment, if any, he has carried out of the recreational or amenity means at Celbridge, County Kildare, with a view to meeting the increasing requirements of a growing population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7196/00]
122 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the position in regards to the availability of funding for youth and community facilities at Confey, Leixlip, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7197/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 to 122, inclusive, together.
The national lottery funded sports capital programme operated by my Department provides funding for clubs-organisations at local, regional and national level for the provision of sports and recreational facilities. Under the programme funding is allocated on the basis of individual applications received with special priority being given to proposals for facilities in disadvantaged areas, in line with Government policy aimed at increasing participation in sport and recreation in these areas.
The 2000 programme was advertised in early December 1999 and the closing date for the receipt of applications was 11 February 2000. In excess of 1,600 applications were received and the initial processing of these has commenced. Applications received under the programme will be evaluated against the programme's assessment criteria which are outlined in the guidelines which accompanied the application form and I hope to be in a position to announce the grant allocations by June 2000.
Under the programme applicants are required to consult with other clubs and community groups, including schools with sports and recreational facilities in their area, and the local authority before making an application for funding and to show the outcome of such consultations. The purpose of this is to ensure regard is had to identified needs of the area and that the proposed development does not result in an overlap with and-or duplication of existing facilities. Sports clubs developing projects at national level are also required to ensure that the proposals are consistent with the priorities of their national governing bodies.
My Department consults as appropriate, when assessing applications, with other relevant Departments and agencies, including the Irish Sports Council, with a view to ensuring co-ordination in the provision of sports and recreational facilities at local level.
123 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the status of an application by a club (details supplied) in County Dublin; when approval for this grant will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7222/00]
The sports capital programme for 2000 was advertised in early December 1999 with a closing date of 11 February 2000 for the receipt of completed applications. Initial processing of these applications has commenced and, if the organisation in question has submitted an application, a letter of acknowledgement will issue from my Department within the next week.
Applications received under the programme will be evaluated against the programme's assessment criteria which are outlined in the guidelines which accompanied the application form and I hope to be in a position to announce the grant allocations by June 2000.
