Vol. 555 No. 3
196 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if there will be extra resources allocated from his Department to Drogheda in consideration of the massive population increase that now makes Drogheda the largest town in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18548/02]
There are three programmes operated by my Department through which grants are provided in respect of capital projects. These are the national lottery funded sports capital programme, the local authority swimming pool programme and ACCESS – arts and culture capital enhancement support scheme – 2001-2004. In the case of the latter, all funding is fully committed at present. In the case of the local authority swimming pool programme the position is that the current programme closed for applications in July 2000. The Department is currently endeavouring to bring into use projects in respect of which proposals were received prior to that date. At present, no decision has been made regarding the invitation of new applications for swimming pools.
The sports capital programme, which is advertised annually, is an application based process, through which voluntary and community organisations, local authorities, national governing bodies and in some cases third level institutions and schools can apply for funding for the provision of sport and recreational facilities.
Following the completion of an extensive assessment of all applications projects are funded on the basis of objective criteria. The allocation of funding to any particular area is therefore dependent on the number and quality of applications received from that area under the programme. It is not possible at this stage, in advance of the next round of allocations under the programme to provide the information sought by the Deputy.
