Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Apr 1991

Vol. 407 No. 5

Written Answers. - Maynooth (Kildare) Sports Complex.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

71 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if she has received proposals from community groups in Maynooth, County Kildare, for the provision of a sports complex, including a swimming pool, adjacent to the local post-primary school; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that these facilities, if provided, will be shared between the school and the general public in the area; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that a local contribution can be made available in the event of grant aid being provided from the proceeds of the national lottery in respect of such a proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter outlining whether funds will be made available for such works in the current year or in 1992 within the context of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

An application was received in 1987 under my Department's capital grant scheme for the provision of recreational facilities from Maynooth Community Council for funding towards the cost of a sports complex. However, due to the large number of applications received at the time under this scheme it was not possible to allocate a grant to the project.

Following a Government decision in late 1989 the capital grant scheme was amalgamated with the amenity grants scheme operated by the Department of the Environment. Under the new arrangements grants are now allocated by the Minister for the Environment to projects recommended by local authorities which are also responsible for processing the applications.

Accordingly, the application submitted by Maynooth Community Council was forwarded to Kildare County Council in January 1990 for their consideration under these new arrangements.