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Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2018

Tuesday, 4 December 2018

Questions (565, 570)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

565. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding and-or grant aid his Department has made to an association (details supplied) from 1 January 2008 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the purpose for which the funding and-or grant aid was released to the association; if the way in which the funding and-or grant aid is used is audited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50074/18]

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Catherine Murphy

Question:

570. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of national lottery funding granted to an association (details supplied) in the past 25 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50208/18]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 565 and 570 together.

Details of the total Exchequer allocations to the relevant National Lottery supported subheads within my Department's vote are published in the annual Revised Estimates for Public Services. The Sport Ireland subhead and the Sports Capital Programme subhead are partly funded from the proceeds of the National Lottery. These programmes are only part-funded by the National Lottery with the remaining expenditure coming from general Exchequer funding. The Revised Estimates do not specify the precise amount of National Lottery funding in each individual subhead. Accordingly, it is not possible to say how much of the funding provided to the organisation mentioned by the Deputy relates to proceeds of the National Lottery.

Sport Ireland is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport, including responsibility for the allocation of current expenditure funding to the organisation referred to by the Deputy. In addition to current funding, Exchequer capital funding of €500,000 was provided through Sport Ireland during the period mentioned under a Partnership Agreement between Sport Ireland and the organisation, to facilitate works relating to the development of pitches for the relevant sport at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown.

I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply in relation to the allocation of funding to the organisation mentioned in each of the years 2008 to 2018, and the way in which the funding is audited. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.

In relation to assistance for capital projects, the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. From 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2017 grants totalling €1,694,000 have been allocated directly to the organisation referred to by the Deputy. No amounts were allocated in 2018. Separately, numerous individual clubs and other units at county and provincial levels which are affiliated to the organisation referred to by the Deputy have received SCP funding over the years. Details of all allocations to all clubs and organisations under the SCP since 1998 are published on the Department's website at www.dttas.ie/sport/english/sports-capital-programme. Spot-checks in relation to the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) are carried out in accordance with the relevant Department of Finance Guidelines and are carried out by the Finance Unit of my Department. Checks are undertaken in respect of payments made in the previous year. The checks are primarily designed to ensure that the work undertaken by grantees is consistent with that indicated in the grant award, ensure that payments were paid correctly and in a timely manner, and that appropriate insurance is in place for grant aided facilities. The inspections are also used to obtain feedback from grantees on the Sports Capital Programme.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A
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