The 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. The organisation in question was provisionally allocated a grant of €250,000 under the 2005 sports capital programme. In order for grants to be formally approved and paid out, certain conditions must be met in accordance with the guidelines, terms and conditions of the sports capital programme.
One of the requirements in order to draw down payment of sports capital grants, is the invoking of a Deed of Covenant and Charge. My Department's legal advisers, the Chief State Solicitor's Office (CSSO), deal with the grantee's solicitor in executing this Deed. In this case, the Deed of Covenant and Charge was invoked on 31 January 2007.
Invoices to cover expenditure incurred are now with my Department's technical advisers, the Office of Public Works (OPW) for examination and certification. Upon receiving this certification and confirmation that tax clearance details of the organisation and the contractors working on the project are in order, my Department will be in a position to pay the eligible grant moneys at the earliest possible date.