I want initially to correct Deputy Allen. I stated categorically that the estimated cost to the taxpayer of the Sports Campus and Stadium Ireland was £550 million, of which £350 million will be required from the Exchequer. I stand by that figure. I do not know from where the Deputy obtained a figure of £857 million. However, the total cost of projects in the year 2000 was approximately £383 million and 697 projects were allocated funding. I return to the point that the average grant given to any project is £53,000. The Deputy, when serving as a Minister of State, scattered grants around like snuff at a wake and the average grant given during his tenure was between £10,000 and £15,000. He should recognise that it would take an ordinary community a lengthy period to raise £53,000.
In 2000 I allocated funding to 697 projects while 416 projects were given grants in the previous year. I was approached by representatives – many of them Members of this House – from each of these projects and we tried to prioritise matters to allow them to commence. All of those involved in the projects to which I refer promised that they would ensure that their work commenced and was duly completed. We had not done badly by the end of 1999, but we still managed to return between £4 million and £5 million. As we increase the number of projects to which we provide funding, the number of projects that fall by the wayside also increases because they are not able to employ the relevant developers or contractors to allow the work to proceed. In 2000, £36 million was allocated by the Department and, as already stated, all of this will not be used.
The Government will continue to fund local and small organisations, including GAA, rugby and soccer clubs, etc. However, that issue is separate to that which involves the funding of the national stadium. We are not diverting funding to the national stadium that would otherwise be given to these organisations. The smaller organisations to which I am giving the funding are unable to spend it. This is mainly due to the fact that there are not enough developers or contractors interested in doing jobs valued at £100,000, £200,000 or £300,000.