Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 6

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status.

Seán Crowe

Question:

256 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the exact official definition used by his Department of the terms disadvantage, disadvantaged area and disadvantaged community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17020/03]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O'Donoghue):

The main programme operated by my Department where a particular focus exists on areas referred to by the Deputy is the national lottery-funded sports capital programme. One of the stated main objectives of the programme is to prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of facilities. The programme is run on an annual basis and allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country.

For the 2003 sports capital programme, following consultation with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, it was decided that disadvantaged areas were those that have been designated by Government for special support through the schemes administered by that Department, namely, RAPID 1, RAPID 2, local drugs task force areas and CLÁR areas.