Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 2 Dec 1998

Vol. 497 No. 6

Written Answers - Grant Schemes.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

216 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the nature of each grant scheme operated by his Department since the formation of the Government; the objective of the scheme; and the name of each body or individual grant aided under each scheme. [25946/98]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid):

The sports capital programme operated by my Department consists of the recreational facilities and the major facilities schemes. The recreational facilities scheme assists voluntary community organisations in providing, improving and equipping recreational, leisure and community facilities. The major facilities scheme is a multi-annual capital programme for major sports facilities at national, regional and local level.

In February last, the present programme was closed down and all applications received up to the closing date were examined. In the light of this assessment, grants totalling £5.95 million were allocated to a number of projects around the country, a list of which I will forward to the Deputy.

In the context of the 1998 round of allocations, I announced that I was initiating a comprehensive review of operation of the sports capital programme. The review of the programme has been ongoing in my Department for the past few months and I expect that it will be completed very shortly. Once the review is completed, details of the new programme will be widely publicised and it will then be open to clubs and organisations to apply for funding under the new programme.

The annual grant scheme for national governing bodies of sport (NGBS) administered by my Department provides funding for 75 recognised NGBs to assist with the cost of administration, international competition and training, international events and meetings, organisational development, and equipment. The aim of this scheme is primarily to assist the NGBs' ongoing efforts to increase participation in sport, especially amongst the young, people with disabilities, communities in areas of disadvantage, and women; and to promote standards of good conduct and fair play.

A list of the national governing bodies of sport which receive funding in 1998 under this scheme is also attached.

The international carding scheme for high performance player/athletes was launched in May 1998. The scheme replaces the outstanding sport-spersons grant scheme operated by the Department of Education between 1986 and 1997.

The international carding scheme provides Ireland's most talented junior, developmental and world class athletes with the opportunity to benefit from a structured system of supports which includes (i) direct financial assistance and, (ii) access, free of charge, to a full range of sports science and medical services, a career planning and counselling service and training facilities.

Under the international carding scheme, athletes must have attained specific performance standards in one of the classification categories — junior, developmental, international or world — in order to be considered for support. The selection of applicants in each category is made with reference to sport specific criteria, as agreed with the relevant national governing bodies of sport. This system aims to remove any element of subjectivity in that only those athletes who have reached the agreed criteria may be selected.

The objective of the scheme will be to nurture emerging talent and to turn a higher percentage of international class performances into world class performances, thus helping Irish players and athletes to reach more European, World and Olympic finals and win more medals in these events. The scheme is underpinned by a drugsfree philosophy.

A total of 178 players and athletes have qualified for support under the carding scheme in 1998. Funding of £964,365 has been allocated in direct financial support to the relevant national governing bodies of sport for distribution to the individual players and athletes.

A list of the 178 players and athletes who attained carded status under the 1998 scheme, is attached.

Under the youth and sport grant scheme, administered by my Department, funding is provided to vocational education committees (VECs) for the promotion of youth and sport activities at local level. Grants are distributed by the vocational education committees to local youth and sports clubs and to a number of special initiatives, including projects for disadvantaged young people. All 33 vocational education committees received funding in 1998 under this scheme.

Assistance is provided to recreational sports by means to grants towards organisations providing recreational sport opportunities as part, or all, of their overall activities. Funding is given to the specific sports programmes of these organisations. The organisations benefiting from this scheme in 1998 are: The Irish Heart Foundation; Dublin Healthy Cities; Dublin City Marathon; The Irish Countrywomen's Association; Saol Plus; Age & Opportunity; and Parks Tennis.