Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2006
27 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the criteria used by his Department to evaluate national lottery sport capital grant applications; if there is a noticeable trend where an applicant is more successful if they have failed in a previous sport capital grant application; the percentage of applications that fail to meet criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34700/06]
View answerThe sports capital programme, which is 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.
Applications submitted to the programme must meet certain minimum qualifying conditions before they can qualify for funding. These include: evidence of having the minimum amount required of own funding towards the cost of the project; evidence of title to property and of applying for planning permission (where this is required) and providing a feasibility study where the project costs over €500,000. These conditions are set out in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme which accompanies the application form and are available from my Department's website www.dast.gov.ie. I have arranged for copies of the application form and guidelines for the 2007 sports capital programme to be forwarded to the Deputy for his further information.
Applications which meet the minimum qualifying conditions are evaluated in accordance with assessment criteria, which are also listed in the programme's guidelines, terms and conditions and are as follows:
Whether the project aims to increase active participation in sport and/or improve standards of sports performance in line with clearly stated targets and showing how the application will measure these increases or improvements. In particular, facilities will be prioritised which will help promote and enhance female participation in sport.
Whether the application provides evidence that the project is located in a disadvantaged area and meets a need for sporting facilities in the area.
Whether the following has been provided: evidence of title to the project site; evidence of planning permission applied for or in place; drawings/specifications for the project; and accurate costings for each element of the project.
Whether the project is realistic in terms of scale, costs and grant assistance sought.
Whether a proven history of fund-raising is shown that and a good level of own funding towards the cost which will allow the project to be finished within a realistic timeframe.
Whether the applicant has proved the level of own funding contribution towards the project
Whether the application includes realistic projections of income from the proposed facility that will be used to maintain it when it is finished.
Whether the project has a high priority in relation to the applicant's existing facilities.
Whether there is already a good level of similar sporting facilities in the area.
Whether the application includes details and evidence of consultation with other clubs, community groups, schools and the local authority, especially those that will use the facility.
Whether the application clearly explains how the applicant will attract socially excluded people to use the facility.
Whether the project fits in with the priorities for its sport as identified by the sport's national governing body (for regional or national-level projects only).
Highest priority is afforded to projects in disadvantaged areas aimed at increasing participation. High priority projects include those which are essential or integral to sports participation or performance, e.g. pitch development, floodlighting, changing rooms and showers. The assessment process also takes into account factors such as the existing level of facilities in an area, the number and quality of the applications received, the amount of funding being sought by each applicant and the strategic positioning of major facilities that may be required. At the end of the assessment process each application is given its order of priority within its own county. Every effort is made to achieve a balanced geographical spread of funds throughout the country.
Following the announcement of provisional allocations under a programme, my Department writes to applicants advising them of the outcome of the assessment process and whether or not they have been successful or unsuccessful. In the case of the latter, they are also given details of the assessment carried out on their application, indicating why the application was unsuccessful. This information can act as guidance to organisations in the submission of future applications for support under the Programme.
It is open to all applicants, both successful and unsuccessful to apply for funding under a future programme. My Department does not produce statistics in terms of the success rate of applicants which had previously been unsuccessful under the programme. In relation to unsuccessful applications, I can inform the Deputy that, of the 1,338 applications submitted under the 2006 sports capital programme, a total of 797 were awarded provisional allocations and 541 (or 40%) were unsuccessful.
The 2007 round of the sports capital programme was advertised on Sunday 15th and Monday 16th last with a closing date for receipt of applications under the programme, set for close of business on Friday 24th November next.
