Vol. 555 No. 5
262 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans to provide additional funding for St. Theresa's Special Olympics Club in Dundalk; and, if not, the alternative sources of funding where applications can be made. [19344/02]
The national lottery funded sports capital programme is administered by my Department and allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country towards the provision of sports and recreational facilities. Projects must be directly related to the provision of sports and recreational facilities and be of a capital nature, which, for the purpose of the programme, is defined as expenditure on the improvement or construction of an asset and includes any costs directly incurred in this process and purchase of permanently based sports equipment, that is, it is securely housed and will remain in use for five years or more.
The programme, however, does not assist in the purchase of sites, premises or personal equipment, such as sports kits, gloves, personal protective clothing, etc.
The programme is advertised on an annual basis. The closing date for the receipt of completed applications under the 2002 programme was 4 January. The club in question did not apply. Provisional grant allocations were announced on 29 March and all funding under the 2002 programme has now been allocated.
Should the club in question have a requirement in keeping with the basic criteria listed above, then it will be open to it to apply under the 2003 sports capital programme when it is advertised. Guidelines, terms and conditions for the programme will be issued with the application forms.
