Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Nov 2001

Vol. 544 No. 3

Written Answers. - Sports Capital Programme.

Tony Gregory

Question:

441 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he received a request from Scouting Ireland for funding assistance to carry out essential renovations at Lough Dan Adventure Centre, Roundwood, County Wicklow; and his response to that request. [28477/01]

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

Under the national lottery funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, grants are allocated to clubs and organisations for the development of sports and recreational facilities. Among the aims and objectives of the programme are to develop an integrated and planned approach to the development of sport and recreational facilities, to assist voluntary and community organisations with the development of appropriate facilities in appropriate locations that will maximise use in terms of participation in sports and recreation, to prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of facilities and to encourage the multi-purpose use of facilities at national, regional and community level by clubs, community organisations and national governing bodies of sport.

All applications received under the programme are treated on their merits and assessed in accordance with the detailed criteria outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions governing the programme. Projects must be directly related to the provision of sports and recreation facilities and be of a capital nature. High priority projects include those which are essential or integral to sports participation or performance such as pitch development, floodlighting or dressing rooms and showers. All funding has been allocated under the 2001 programme. An application for funding for equipment was received from the Lough Dan Adventure Centre but following the assessment process the application was unsuccessful and this decision was conveyed by my Department to the organisation in a letter dated 13 June 2001. I will be announcing the 2002 sports capital programme within the next few weeks and it will be open to Scouting Ireland to make an application for funding in respect of the Lough Dan Adventure Centre.