Vol. 569 No. 4
255 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the total funding provided to the Community Games organisation by his Department for each of the past three years; the commitment to continue this funding for the next few years in view of the problems facing the association due to the fact that it must seek an alternative site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17978/03]
The reception and integration agency of my Department entered into an agreement in December, 2000 with the proprietors of Mosney Holiday Centre for the provision of accommodation and ancillary services to asylum seekers. In recognition of the fact that the holiday centre had hosted the Community Games finals for many years, it was agreed with the proprietors that the games would continue to be hosted at the centre. As such, the games were held there in 2001 and 2002 and are scheduled to take place there again in August of this year.
Funding provided by my Department to facilitate the holding of the games in Mosney was €339,095 in 2001, €165,000 in 2002 and a sum of €150,000 was made available for this year. In making these subventions available, together with agreeing to make the Mosney Centre available, recognition has been given by the Government to the fact that the Community Games is a unique national organisation which provides an unparalleled opportunity every year for children to participate in sports and pageantry. The RIA will continue to liaise with representatives of the Community Games on the use of Mosney in future years and in the context of the overall budgetary situation going forward.
