Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 1

Written Answers - Sports Capital Programme.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

583 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the total number and value of projects to which he awarded sporting or recreational grants in County Kildare in each of the past three years; the number of applications rejected, approved and pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12379/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

584 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the total number of applications received for funding of sporting and recreational facilities in each of the past three years; the number approved; the number rejected; the number and location pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12380/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

585 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the extent to which funds awarded to various sporting or recreational projects in the past three years have been drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12381/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

586 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the total amount of money awarded or committed in respect of sporting or recreation projects throughout the country in the past three years; the amount committed and spent from the proceeds of the national lottery and other sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12383/01]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 583 to 586, inclusive, together.

The following table summarises the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the national lottery funded sports capital programme over the past three years. Please note that the Total Amount Spent column relates to the money drawn down in the year in question only.

Year	No. of Applications			No. Approved			No. Rejected			Grants Value			Total Amount Spent
	Total	Kildare	Total	Kildare	Total	Kildare	TotalIR£	KildareIR£	TotalIR£	KildareIR£
2000	1,645	52	679	29	966	23	35.8m	2.0m	12.3m	0.98m
1999	1,898	61	416	32	1,482	29	20.0m	2.0m	7.3m	0.15m
1998	1,423	54	246	22	1,177	32	6.0m	1.1m	5.4m	0.04m

The grants under the sports capital programme are allocated on an annual basis and unsuccessful applicants may apply in the following years if they wish to be considered again for funding. Accordingly, there are no projects pending other than the 1,450 or so applications nationally which are currently being assessed under the 2001 programme for which closing date for receipt of applications was 9 February. There are 58 applications from County Kildare.

In the case of the grants allocated under the 2000 sports capital programme, grantees have until 28 September 2001 to submit the necessary documentation and evidence that construction work has begun on the project. A number of these projects have already submitted the necessary documentation. The grants in those cases where work is still under way will be paid on receipt of the certificate of payment or invoices.

In the case of grants allocated under the 1999 sports capital programme the grantees had until 30 September 2000 to confirm that work was under way. A substantial number of these projects have been completed while some are still in the course of construction. My Department is currently in contact with the organisations whose projects have not yet commenced or who have not yet submitted any of the required documentation, advising them that the grants are about to be withdrawn.

In the case of grants allocated under the 1998 sports capital programme, the grantees had until 30 June 1999 to confirm that work was under way. The majority of these grants have now been paid while a small number of projects are still in the course of construction.

During the course of the year 2000 grants amounting to over £1 million were withdrawn from projects which did not commence on time or which failed to submit the necessary documentation to my Department by the due dates.

Under the local authority swimming pool programme, I secured £45 million funding for an accelerated programme of investment over the three year period 2000-2002 for the refurbishment of existing pools and the provision of new pools. The package effectively increased the annual budget from £3 million to £15 million. During 2000 grants totalling £6.5 million were allocated towards the refurbishment of Roscommon pool and the construction of new pools in Dundalk and Courtown, County Wexford. Work is in progress on these pools.

In 1999, two swimming pool proposals were received by this Department under the swimming pool programme. In 2000, local authorities were invited to submit updated proposals because of the increased funding secured and a total of 51 such proposals were received in my Department by the closing date of 31 July 2000. Decisions have been made on five of these applications and there are 46 proposals from local authorities under consideration at present, including two for County Kildare for pools in Naas and Athy.

Under the local authority swimming pool programme, there are outstanding commitments of £6,408,915 in 2001. Payments to date in 2001 are £402,190. In 2000 £5,793,454 was spent and £4,500,000 was spent in 1999 under this programme.

My Department has also committed a grant of £5.95 million towards the construction of the national 50 metre swimming pool in Limerick. Construction of this pool is under way and is expected to be completed later this year.

Question No. 587 answered with Question No. 83.

Question No. 588 answered with Question No. 78.

Question No. 589 answered with Question No. 83.