asked the Minister for Education the criteria which will be applied in deciding applications for grant aid from the national lottery.
Written Answers. - National Lottery Grant Aid.
150.
The following criteria apply in relation to the allocation of grants from the surplus proceeds of the national lottery:
1. Youth Services:
(i) Applications for assistance will be considered from voluntary youth organisations or their affiliated groups which satisfy the conditions laid down in the established Youth Service Grant Scheme.
(ii) Grants will also be paid to Vocational Education Committees to assist youth and sports projects at local level. The criteria governing these grants have not yet been finalised.
2. Sports Services:
(i) Applications for assistance will be considered from voluntary sporting organisations which satisfy the conditions laid down in the grant-in-aid scheme.
Additionally applications will be considered under the grant scheme to outstanding sportspersons, the Franco-Irish Cultural Exchange scheme in accordance with the terms of the existing schemes.
Funding will also be provided in respect of Sport for All activities which contribute to the development of the Sport for All philosophy.
(ii) In relation to the following new projects in the sport area in respect of which funding is now being provided, such funding was allocated having regard to the need for such a service and the benefits which will accrue and the financial implications arising from the introduction of such projects. The projects in question are:
(a) the staffing of Outdoor Education Centres:
—The establishment of an Irish Coaching Bureau;
—the introduction of an Action Sports Programme in deprived areas;
—the Commercial development of sport;
—Research into sport in Ireland;
—Better use of existing facilities.
3. Capital Grant Scheme:
Applications for assistance will be considered from all voluntary community organisations which satisfy the conditions laid down by the Capital Grant scheme for the construction of Recreational Facilities and from all youth groups which satisfy the conditions of the Face-Lift Grant scheme.
4. National, Regional and Local Sports Facilities:
The Government have allocated a total of £6.5 million in 1988 for the provision of a National Sports Centre in Dublin, five Regional Sports Centres and fourteen other Local Sports Centres at various locations throughout the country. These have been identified on the basis of the report of the National Sports Centre Committee and on the basis of applications received in the Department for the provision of such facilities.
A copy of each of the aforementioned schemes is being made available in the Oireachtas Library.