Vol. 529 No. 2
167 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if, in view of the increased demands of County Kildare, he proposes to take any initiatives in respect of meeting the recreational and funding requirements of various sporting groups throughout the county with a view to the provision of enhanced facilities for swimming and athletics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2734/01]
Under the 2000 sports capital programme, 52 clubs and organisations from Country Kildare applied for funding; 29 of them receiving a combined total of £2,001,500 in allocations under the programme.
All of the applications were assessed in accordance with the assessment criteria outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions governing the programme. In assessing the applications received, consideration is given to the population base of each county and provision is made for the equitable geographical spread of funds and for the spread of funds among different sports and community groups, having regard to the range of existing facilities which have been funded in previous years.
The 2000 programme is now completed. Under the sports capital programme there is a separate application process each year and applications made in a previous year cannot be considered under the following year's programme.
Applications are currently invited under the 2001 programme. The closing date for receipt of these applications is 9 February, 2001 and it is open to voluntary organisations and clubs, including athletics clubs, in County Kildare to apply for funding under this year's programme.
The amount of annual funding available to the swimming pool programme has been increased fivefold from £3 million in 1999 to £15 million in each of the years 2000, 2001 and 2002, to support the refurbishment of existing pools and towards the construction costs of new pools.
Under the revised 2000 swimming pool programme grants of up to £3 million are to be made available towards both the refurbishment of existing pools and the provision of new pools, subject in both cases, to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project and not exceeding 90% of the eligible cost for projects located in designated disadvantaged areas.
There are 46 proposals from local authorities under consideration in my Department at present under the swimming pool programme, including two proposals from Kildare County Council.
