Vol. 556 No. 4
174 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans to provide or grant assist the various groups which are now organising or providing facilities for indoor bowling for senior citizen groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20743/02]
Under the national lottery funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, grants are allocated to sporting, voluntary and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country towards the provision of sport and recreational facilities. Projects must be directly related to the provision of sport and recreation 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, including any costs directly incurred in this process and purchase of permanently based sports equipment if it is securely housed and will remain in use for five years or more.
The programme is advertised on an annual basis. The closing date for the receipt of completed applications under the 2002 programme was 4 January last and provisional grant allocations under the programme were announced on 29 March. All funding under the 2002 programme has been allocated. It will be open to the organisations in question 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.
The Irish Sports Council administers a special programme, Go for Life, to promote and facilitate the involvement of older people in sport and physical activity. The council also provides funding to the Bowling League of Ireland, the national governing body of the sport, towards its administrative and programme costs. Details of these programmes are available from the Irish Sports Council.
