Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 December 2016
277. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department will facilitate 2017 sports capitation grant applications in which anomalies may arise with the application and which may need to be amended during the assessment process. [39158/16]
View answerFollowing the conclusion of the 2017 Estimates discussions, a total of €52m has been provided for sports capital projects. This will meet all existing commitments under previous rounds of the Sports Capital and Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme. It will also allow for a new round of the Sports Capital Programme. In this regard, the new round will be open for applications by January at the latest.
In relation to the supports available for clubs to complete the application, the new Programme will include a new online portal which will make the process more user-friendly with the application form reduced from 14 pages to 6 pages. Other supports will include a comprehensive written guide, video guides and regional workshops to assist clubs and organisations with the application process. Staff in the relevant section of my Department will also be available to help clubs by phone and email. We will be announcing more comprehensive details of the new round shortly, probably before the end of the year and in any event not later than January 2017.
