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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 15 Feb 1983

Vol. 340 No. 1

Written Answers. - Sports and Recreational Grants.

313.

asked the Minister for Finance the grants available for sports and recreational facilities from the EEC.

European Regional Development Fund: The non-quota section of the European Regional Development fund is currently providing grants of 50 per cent of public expenditure on the provision of amenities and infrastructure directly related to the development of tourism and to cultural and recreational facilities including angling and riding and works aimed at improving scope for water sports particularly through the development of inland waterways. This provision is in the context of the Special Five Year Border Areas Programme and is confined to the five border counties — Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth.

European Social Fund: There are no European Social Fund Grants available directly for sports and recreational facilities but fund assistance is provided indirectly, in certain cases, through the temporary youth employment scheme, administered up to now by the Department of Education but at present being transferred to the Department of Labour. The scheme is aimed at relieving unemployment among young people under 25 years of age and European Social Fund assistance towards the cost is based on the fact that it provides work experience for young people. The schemes is designed to aid private bodies such as youth groups, sports clubs and community organisations to initiate work projects which will have some lasting beneficial effect on the community or environment. Participants are recruited directly by the youth/sport/community associations concerned through the National Manpower Service. Priority is given to areas with problems of high unemployment and special consideration is given to young people who have been unemployed for six months or more.

These are the only sources of EEC grants for sports and recreational facilities.

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