Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Sports Capital Programme.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

59 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the number of applications received for the 2002 sports capital programme by the deadline of 4 January; the total amount sought in grant aid; when it is expected that the grants will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2547/02]

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

69 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the amount of lottery funding available in 2002 for local and sporting community facilities; when applications will be sought; and when allocations will be made. [2373/02]

Austin Deasy

Question:

70 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the manner in which the profile for the awarding of lottery grants is drafted. [2658/02]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 69 and 70 together.

The sports capital programme for 2002 was advertised on 25 and 26 November 2001 with a closing date of 4 January for the receipt of completed applications. In excess of 1,300 applications were received prior to the deadline, with the total stated grant aid requested over 300 million.

The applications received are currently being evaluated against the programme's assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. These include: the extent to which the project, in terms of growth targets, will increase the levels of active participation in sport and-or result in improved standards of sporting performance; the extent to which the project, in terms of growth targets, will serve to increase participation in disadvantaged areas; the technical merits of the project, for example, whether it complies with standard technical specifications from the relevant governing body and statutory authorities, possession of planning permission; the financial viability of the project; the level of local funding available towards the project; the extent to which the applicant will be able to maintain the project after completion; the level of socio-economic disadvantage in the area and the current and planned levels of sport and recreational sport facilities in the area; the need to achieve an equitable geographical spread of funds, having regard to the range of existing facilities in each county; the extent to which applicants have consulted with other clubs, community groups, schools and the local authority in developing their proposals and the outcome of these consultations; in the case of projects aimed at attracting people from disadvantaged areas, the strategies to be used to attract them; the need to achieve an equitable spread of funds among different sports and community groups; the priority of proposed improvements facilities in relation to the organisation's existing facilities; and the priorities for their individual sports, as identified by the national governing bodies.

Each application is scored depending on the extent to which they meet these assessment criteria; different weights are attached to the various criteria depending on their importance. During the assessment process my Department will consult, as appropriate, with other Departments, agencies and national governing bodies of sport.

At the end of this process each application receives a score which decides its order of priority within its own county. Recommendations, based on conclusions from this process and having regard to the amount of funding available for distribution, are made to me. I intend to announce the grant allocations for the programme as soon as possible after the assessment process has been completed.