Last Friday was the closing date for completed applications from sports, social and youth clubs under the sports capital programme. Unfortunately, since the Government came to power 20 months ago, minimal grants have been made under this programme. For example, just a few clubs in my constituency received the paltry sum of about £4,000 between them last year.
The Minister, Deputy McDaid, constantly repeated the mantra that he was reviewing the programme and I, like other Deputies, had many lengthy discussions with him in the lobbies of this House about how he wanted to redesign and refocus it towards major projects. There was a time when the applications for this programme were often made in an informal way. When I was a member of the Committee of Public Accounts there was a famous application the record of which was written on the back of a cigarette box by the former Minister, John O'Connell, but over recent years regulations and the guidelines for applications have been considerably tightened. It seems to me that there are aspects of present guidelines, particularly in relation to funding for projects in deprived areas, which we should look at again.
The guidelines, terms and conditions for the new sports capital programme have significantly increased the onus on local bodies to come up with finance from their own resources. Applicant clubs will now have to meet at least 50 per cent of the cost of regional projects and 30 per cent of the cost of local facilities. While section 3.1 of these guidelines states that the highest priority will be given to projects in disadvantaged areas, section 2.7 states that those areas must still find at least 20 per cent of the cost of new facilities unless those districts can access EU or other national funding, where the minimal local contribution will still be 10 per cent in the main. In gravely disadvantaged areas, such as those I represent in Dublin North-East, a club might, therefore, have to raise up to £50,000 for a clubhouse or dressing rooms costing perhaps £250,000. In those areas where there is continuing significant long-term unemployment the raising of even £5,000 is a major achievement. Under these guidelines there is a requirement that applications for larger club projects must be accompanied by a costly in-depth feasibility study. There is also provision for technical advice and consultation. Clubs sponsoring projects must have long leases or own their own grounds.
As has been the case throughout most of the lottery's history since 1987, it looks as if disadvantaged areas may be callously ignored. Ironically, many studies have shown that such deprived urban and rural areas are among the biggest supporters of the lottery competitions. When the price of the ticket for the twice weekly lottery draws was increased by 50 per cent from 50p to 75p per panel some months ago, the national lottery trumpeted its contribution to the types of projects in deprived areas to which I refer.
We must remember the nature of social deprivation in areas such as those in the Northside Partnership area which I represent, and which is spread over a number of constituencies, where there is up to 40 per cent unemployment in some parishes despite the Celtic tiger. The net total amount allocated this year for the sports capital programme is £10 million. Some £14.5 million has been allocated but the other £4.5 million was committed for last year. It is a ludicrously small amount. In Dublin North-East alone, there are at least ten significant projects which would greatly enhance the lives and recreation of my constituents in deprived areas. They would also be a great bulwark against crime and anti-social behaviour by young people. Between £2 million and £3 million could easily be spent on Dublin North-East alone. If we were to have a credible national programme and similar sums of money available for Wicklow or Cavan-Monaghan, for example, the national programme should involve at least £50 million.
The Minister, Deputy McDaid, whom I respect greatly, advised me over the past year and a half about what he intended to do. I want him to ask the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, for more money to reward those wonderful people in so many social, GAA and soccer clubs. These people have given of their spare time and money to keep young kids off the streets and to facilitate senior citizens. I ask that he give them the kind of reward which we should be giving as we head into the millennium year, in which it is expected that the level of growth will be 10 per cent and when the level over the next ten years is expected to be 6 per cent. In that context, he should reinterpret the guidelines on behalf of the people of disadvantaged areas who deserve better consideration.
