Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004
300 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the money allocated by his Department in 2003 and 2004 to directly fund services for persons with disabilities and the money allocated to enabling persons with disabilities to more easily access services of his Department. [8644/04]
View answerUnder the national lottery funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, funding is available to sporting clubs and organisations and to voluntary and community organisations, including organisations representing people with disabilities at local, regional and national levels throughout the country towards the provision of sporting facilities and equipment. It is a requirement of the programme that projects funded be accessible to those with disabilities.
Under the 2003 sports capital programme, €56.35 million was allocated to 628 projects. The type of projects involved include indoor sports halls, community centres, athletic tracks, all-weather playing pitches, basketball courts, provision of sports equipment and a variety of other sports facilities, all of which can be used by disabled persons. In terms of specific allocations to organisations representing the disabled under the 2003 programme, grant aid of €100,000 was allocated to the Irish Wheelchair Association and €3,000 to the Laois Riding for the Disabled Association under the 2003 programme.
Funding in 2003 included €350,000 allocated to the AUL complex in Clonshaugh and €275,000 to Morton stadium to refurbish and improve their facilities for hosting the soccer and athletics competitions of the 2003 Special Olympics World Games. In 2003, my Department also paid the final 5% of the €19.05 million grant allocated in 2001 to ensure that facilities at Croke Park were ready for the games.
The 2004 sports capital programme was advertised in the national newspapers on 30 November and 1 December 2003. The closing date for receipt of applications was 16 January 2004. A total of 1,034 applications were received before the closing date, all of which are currently being evaluated against the programme's assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. I intend to announce the grant allocations for the programme as soon as possible after the assessment process has been completed.
In addition, the Irish Sports Council, from the funding provided by my Department, provided annual grants to a number or organisations representing the disabled, such as the Paralympic Council of Ireland, Special Olympics Ireland, Cerebral Palsy Ireland, Irish Blind Sports Association, Irish Deaf Sports Association and the Irish Wheelchair Association and also to individual elite competitors with disability to assist with their programmes and activities. In 2003, €9.05 million was allocated from my Department's Vote to assist towards the costs of preparing for and staging the Special Olympics World Summer Games.
There is no provision within my Department's Vote specifically allocated to enabling persons with disabilities to more easily access the services of my Department. However, I am happy to say that my Department's website has been certified for maximum possible accessibility for users with disabilities and is monitored on a monthly basis to ensure it continues to be fully accessible.
The main services of my Department used by the public are provided by the cultural institutions — the National Museum, the National Library and the National Archives — which form part of my Department. The capital expenditure for new construction and refurbishment in regard to these institutions is provided by the Office of Public Works and the provision of access for disabled persons is incorporated to the extent that is practicable.
