Vol. 493 No. 1
26 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the timescale for the next round of lottery moneys to be available to groups in the community; if application forms are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15097/98]
Earlier this year, I announced that I was initiating a comprehensive review in my Department of the operation of the sports capital programme. Before work began on the review, I arranged for an examination of all applications in hand at 11 February 1998 in the context of the 1998 round of grant allocations. I also announced that no further applications would be accepted by my Department, under the existing sports capital programme, after that date.
Following this examination, the 1998 round of grant allocations under the sports capital programme was announced on 8 April when about £5 million was allocated to new projects. All applicants, successful and unsuccessful, have been notified of the outcome.
The review of the programme will be carried out over the next few months When the review is completed, which I expect will be towards the end of 1998, details of the new schemes will be widely publicised and it will be open to clubs and organisations to apply for funding under the new schemes. New application forms will be drawn up following the completion of the review.
