Vol. 565 No. 4
123 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of applications his Department has on hand in respect of sporting, recreational and other grant applications; the extent to which he expects to respond to such applications in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11302/03]
125 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of applications for sporting and recreational grants on hand in his Department from sporting, cultural and recreational bodies in County Kildare; the extent to which he expects to respond to these applications in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11304/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 125 together.
The national lottery funded sports capital programme, administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis and any application which was unsuccessful the previous rounds of the programme lapse and such applicants must reapply on an annual basis. The 2003 programme was advertised in the national newspapers on 23 and 24 March 2003, inviting applications which must be received in my Department by 5 p.m. on Friday 25 April next.
I will not be in a position to report on the number of applications to the programme until after that closing date. Nor will I be in a position to decide on the level of funding to be allocated until all of the applications received under the programme have been examined in accordance with the assessment procedures outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme and taking into account the current level of indebtedness and the budgetary situation. In the past five years, grants in excess of €214 million have been allocated to almost 3,000 projects throughout the country.
Under the local authority swimming pool programme, which is also administered by my Department, there are four stages in a swimming pool project, following the submission and approval of a feasibility study. These are in order of progress: preliminary report, contract document and tender and construction. My Department's technical advisors, the Office of Public Works, evaluate each stage and local authorities cannot proceed to the next stage of a project unless prior approval issues from my Department. Grant aid is allocated only when tenders have been approved for the project and is capped at the time of allocation. Proposals must comply with the standards laid down in the Department's procedures for the planning, approval and financing of swimming pools and technical guidelines.
Under the programme, grants of up to a maximum of €3.8 million are available towards the refurbishment of existing pools or the provision of new pools, subject in both cases to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project or, in the case of projects located in designated disadvantaged areas, 90% of the eligible cost. Support is available towards the cost of the swimming pool, toddler pool, sauna and steam room.
