Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 June 2004
81 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, in view of the fact that money has apparently been set aside for the sports capital programme when it will be made available to community groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16664/04]
View answerProjects under the 2004 sports capital programme were announced on 7 May 2004 by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. Projects that have been allocated sports capital funding in designated disadvantaged areas will receive additional top-up funding under the CLÁR and RAPID programmes, administered by my Department.
CLÁR provided top-up funding up to 20%, subject to overall public funding not exceeding 80% or the amount sought, to projects that are selected under the sports capital programme. This week I announced CLÁR support for 99 organisations in 15 counties which will benefit from top-up funding of €1.3 million. Details of the funding are available on www.pobail.ie.
The draft press release announcing the grants was prepared in my Department and cleared by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism by Thursday, 27 May 2004, for issuing on Monday evening with an embargo of Thursday, 3 June 2004, to facilitate the local papers. Unfortunately, the embargo was broken by one of the broadcast media, which precipitated a full issue on Tuesday, 1 June 2004.
As regards RAPID, I intend to allocate top-up funding to successful projects from RAPID areas under the sports capital programme and funding of €1.5 million has been set aside for this purpose. I expect to make an announcement on this funding shortly.
