Vol. 544 No. 1
240 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the extent to which moneys allocated from the proceeds of the national lottery or other sources to various sporting and recreational bodies here have been drawn down as at 31 October 2001; if some such approvals are unlikely to be drawn down in the short-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28267/01]
Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, grants funded from the proceeds of the national lottery are allocated on an annual basis. The 416 organisations, which were allocated grants under the 1999 sports capital programme had until 30 September 2000, to confirm that work was under way and submit the necessary documentation to the Department so that the grants could be paid out. A substantial number of these projects have been completed while a small number are still in the course of construction. My Department has been in contact with the organisations whose projects have not yet commenced or who have not yet submitted any of the required documentation and has advised them that the grants are being withdrawn.
In the case of allocations under the 2000 sports capital programme, the 679 organisations, which were grant aided, had until 28 September 2001, to submit the necessary documentation and evidence that construction work had begun on their project. The vast majority of the grantees submitted most of the necessary documentation by the due date and the processing of the documentation is ongoing in my Department. In the case of grantees which have not submitted the necessary documentation my Department is in the process of advising them that the grants are being withdrawn. It should be noted that an amount of 5% of each grant is retained pending the consultant's or architect's certificate that the project has been satisfactorily completed.
During the course of the years 1999 and 2000, grants amounting to almost £1.3 million were withdrawn from 183 projects, which did not commence on time or which failed to submit the necessary documentation to my Department by the due dates. A total of £17 million has been drawn down so far this year under the programme.
241 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the number of requests on hand for sporting and recreational grant aid in respect of County Kildare; the number to which he has responded favourably in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28268/01]
Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, a total of 58 applications were received in 2001 in respect of projects in County Kildare. Following assessments of these applications, grants totalling £3,035,000 were allocated to 38 projects. The 2001 programme has now been completed and consequently there are no other requests from Kildare currently on hand under the sports capital programme. The 2002 programme will be advertised within the next few weeks and applications for funding will be invited at that time.
Under the local authority swimming pool programme, which is also administered by my Department, there are four stages in a swimming pool project. In order of progression, these are: preliminary report; contract document; tender and construction. The Department's technical adviser, the Office of Public Works, evaluates each stage and local authorities cannot proceed to the next stage of a project, unless prior approval issues from my Department. Grants are not allocated until such time as tenders for a project have been received. Two proposals were submitted by Kildare County Council prior to the programme's closing date of 31 July 2000 in respect of replacement of the pools in Naas and Athy. Preliminary reports for these proposals are at present being assessed by Office of Public Works.
Question No. 242 taken with Question No. 235. Question No. 243 answered with Question No. 78.
Question No. 244 answered with Question No. 235.
245 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the position regarding the availability of funding for youth and community facilities at Confey, Leixlip, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28272/01]
246 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his Department has carried out any assessment of the amenity and recreational means at Clane, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28273/01]
247 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has carried out any assessment of the recreational and amenity means at Celbridge, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28274/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 to 247, inclusive, together.
The national lottery funded sports capital programme, administered by my Department, is advertised annually and applications for funding from clubs-organisations have to be made on an individual basis. All applications received are assessed in accordance with a detailed set of criteria outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme.
Through these criteria, every effort is made to achieve a balanced geographical spread of funds to benefit all types of eligible projects in all categories, having regard to the existing range of facilities in each county while also affording priority to projects in disadvantaged areas aimed at increasing participation, particularly for young people.
Where appropriate, my Department also consults with the Irish Sports Council, other Government Departments and with local authorities in relation to their respective priorities for the provision of sporting facilities. A list of the grants allocated to the towns in question since 1999 follows. I am satisfied the assessment criteria now being used to take account of the amenity and recreational needs of all parts of the country.
The 2002 programme will be advertised within the next few weeks and it will be open to organisations from the areas referred to in County Kildare to make applications for funding at that time.
Sports Capital Programme grants allocated to projects in Celbridge
|
1999 |
Celbridge GAA Club |
£40,000 (€50,790) |
|
2000 |
Celbridge and District Lawn Tennis Club |
£30,000 (€38,092) |
|
2001 |
Ballyoulster United AFC |
£100,000 (€126.974) |
|
Barnhall Rugby Football Club |
£100,000 (€126.974) |
|
|
Celbridge Community Centre |
£40,000 (€50,790) |
|
|
St. Wolstans Community School |
£250,000 (€317,435) |
Sports Capital Programme grants allocated to projects in Clane
|
1999 |
Clane GAA Club |
£160,000 (€203,158) |
|
Clane Lawn Tennis Club |
£20,000 (€25,395) |
|
|
Clane Rugby Football Club |
£30,000 (€38,092) |
|
|
2000 |
Clane GAA Club |
£100,000 (€126,974) |
|
Clane Lawn Tennis Club |
£25,000 (€31,743) |
|
|
2001 |
Clane GAA Club |
£100,000 (€126,974) |
Sports Capital Programme grants allocated to projects in Leixlip
|
1999 |
Leixlip Amenity Group |
£30,000 (€38,092) |
|
2000 |
Leixlip United AFC |
£45,000 (€57,138) |
|
St. Mary's GAA Club |
£125,000 (€158,717) |
|
|
2001 |
St. Mary's GAA Club |
£200,000 (€253,948) |
