Vol. 444 No. 5
144 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education whether a decision has been taken within her Department that no further assistance to Dublin projects would be granted under the major capital grant scheme for sports and recreational facilities; the total sums that will be allocated under the scheme; and if all projects, regardless of their location, will get equal consideration in all decisions on grant support.
No decision has been made by my Department not to provide grant assistance to projects in Dublin.
Grant assistance for sports facilities is provided by my Department under the major facilities scheme and under the recreational facilities scheme. The major facilities scheme, which was introduced by Government in 1988, funds the provision of major sports facilities at national, regional and local level. The purpose of the scheme is to provide an integrated network of modern sports and leisure facilities throughout the country. The total grant aid provided under this scheme since its introduction amounts to £25 million of which £7 million approximately has been provided to projects in Dublin. The 1994 allocation for this scheme amounts to £5 million and future funding will be decided in the context of the annual Estimates for Public Services.
A large number of applications seeking assistance for funding under this programme are under consideration by my Department and I can assure the Deputy that all applications for funding regardless of their location will be given every consideration. Allocations under the recreational facilities scheme will be finalised in the coming weeks on the basis of the published criteria which includes the requirement to achieve an equitable geographical distribution of funds.
