Jim O'Keeffe
Question:20 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the extent of support annually for the Irish Rugby Football Union. [2055/03]
Written Answers. - Sports Funding.
In 2002, grants to the value of €1.92 million were allocated to clubs affiliated to the Irish Rugby Football Union, IRFU, under the sports capital programme administered by my Department. The Irish Sports Council allocated €3.75 million to the IRFU in 2002 in respect of a number of programmes aimed at the development of rugby football.
Funding allocations for 2003 have not yet been decided, but it is open to clubs affiliated to the IRFU and the IRFU itself to apply for capital funding under my Department's sports capital programme while it is open to the IRFU to apply to the Irish Sports Council for funding in respect of initiatives aimed at the development of the game of rugby.