Vol. 550 No. 2
27 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the number of applications received under the sports capital programme for 2002; the amount of funding available to finance this programme; when he expects to announce the successful applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8075/02]
43 Ms McManus 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 2002; 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. [8042/02]
49 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation when he will announce the allocation of capital grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7699/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 43 and 49 together.
The sports capital programme for 2002 was advertised on 25 and 26 November 2001 with a closing date of 4 January 2002 for the receipt of completed applications. A total of 1,355 applications were received before the closing date requesting a total of €310.8 million in funding.
Applications are being evaluated against the programme's assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. Following the assessment process, recommendations will be made to me as to which applications should be funded and to what extent. A decision will then be made on the amount of funding to be allocated under the programme and I will announce the grants to be allocated as soon as possible after this process has been completed. Since I became Minister with responsibility for sport, I have to date allocated more than €134.6 million in funding under sports capital programmes in the 1998 to 2001 period in comparison with a total of €24.6 million allocated by the previous Government in the 1995 to 1997 period.
Question No. 28 answered orally.
Questions Nos. 29 and 30 answered with Question No. 10.
