Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 5

Written Answers. - Sports Capital Programme.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

254 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the work which has been carried out under his remit as provider of recreational facilities to provide youth club facilities; and if he will re-double his efforts to help solve this problem. [31777/01]

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

The Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department, provides grants to organisations for the provision of sporting and recreational facilities. Among the objectives of the programme are to assist voluntary and community organisations with the development of appropriate facilities in appropriate locations that will maximise use in terms of participation in sport and recreation; to encourage the multi-purpose use of facilities at national, regional and community level by clubs, community organisations and national governing bodies of sport; and to prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of facilities.

Voluntary and community organisations can apply for assistance under the programme. Projects must be directly related to the provision of sport and recreation facilities.

Under the 2001 Sports Capital Programme, I allocated a total of over £44.2 million or 56.2 million to 703 projects throughout the country, of which £14.1 million or 17.9 million was allocated to 160 projects which were classified as community or mixed sport.

In all, since this Government took office, I have allocated over £106 million or 135 million to 2,044 projects under the 1998-2001 programmes, compared with a total of just over £19.4 million or 24.6 million by the previous Government through 1995-97. I announced details of the 2002 Sports Capital Programme last month and I am currently inviting applications to the programme. The deadline for receipt of applications is 5 p.m. on Friday, 4 January 2002.

My Department also chairs the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund, YPFSF, the funding of which is under the auspices of the Department of Education and Science. The fund was established in 1998, in the context of the Government's national drugs strategy, to assist in the development of preventative strategies and initiatives in a targeted manner through the development of youth facilities, including sport and recreational facilities, and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. The objective of the fund is to attract at-risk young people in disadvantaged areas into these facilities and activities and divert them away from the dangers of substance abuse. The target group for the fund are ten to 21 year olds who are marginalised through a combination of risk factors relating to family background, environmental circumstances, educational disadvantage, involvement in crime and-or drugs etc.

An Exchequer contribution of over £26 million or 33 million has been allocated to date for the provision of youth orientated facilities. The type of projects and initiatives approved as part of the plans and strategies submitted to date include: capital projects such as community centres, youth facilities and sports clubs to provide suitable accommodation for programmes and services geared for the most "at risk" young people in an area – access for the target group is an essential condition of funding for capital projects; and a number of purpose-built youth centres which will provide a focal point for youth activities in an area, particularly areas such as Tallaght, Ballymun, Clondalkin and Blanchardstown where there is a dearth of dedicated youth facilities.