Written Answers. - Sports Capital Programme.
Ivor Callely
Ceist:
53
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
if his attention has been drawn to the expressed views of young people that there are inadequate facilities available to them, especially the age group between 16 and 20 years of age, which leaves them vulnerable to other activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19828/99]
Grant assistance is available under the national lottery funded sports capital programme administered by my Department for developments in relation to a variety of sporting facilities at national, regional and local level. It is the primary vehicle for promoting the development of sports and recreational facilities in Ireland and funding is allocated on the basis of individual applications received.
While my attention has not been directly drawn to any specific body of expressed views, I can confirm that funding of up to £50 million will be available under the programme for the development of facilities in the period 1999 to 2001. This is a significant increase over the provision of £21 million over the previous three year period from 1996 to 1998 and is evidence of this Government's commitment to the provision of sports and recreational facilities throughout the country.
While all applications under the new programme which was advertised at the end of 1998, following a comprehensive review, are treated on their merits, special priority is given to proposals for facilities in disadvantaged areas, in line with Government policy aimed at increasing participation in sport and recreation in these areas. Applicants are also required to consult with other clubs and community groups, including schools, with sports and recreational facilities in their areas, and the local authority before making an application for funding and to show the outcome of such consultations. The purpose of this consultation process is to ensure regard is had to identified needs of the area, including those of young people and that the proposed development does not result in overlap with and/or duplication of existing facilities. Sports clubs developing projects at national and regional level are also required to ensure their proposals are consistent with the priorities of their national governing bodies. In addition, my Department may consult, as appropriate, when assessing applications, with other relevant Departments and agencies, including the Irish Sports Council, with a view to ensuring co-ordination in the provision of sports and recreational facilities at local level.
Following an application process earlier this year, allocations totalling some £16 million have been made in 1999 to almost 400 local community based projects and to national and regional projects throughout the country under the new sports capital programme.
Furthermore, as part of the Government's overall national drugs strategy, the young people's facilities and services fund was established last year to develop youth facilities, including sports and recreational facilities, and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drugs problem exists or has the potential to develop. The three year fund aims to attract young people in those areas – at risk of becoming involved in drugs – into more healthy and productive pursuits. To this end, the Cabinet committee on social inclusion has allocated £34.8 million over the three year lifetime of the fund, of which £24.8 million has been approved to support the development of youth services and facilities in those areas which suffer from the highest levels of drugs misuse. To date under this initiative, 295 facility and services projects in the local drugs task force areas in Dublin and Cork have been approved funding, including over 86 capital projects – such as youth centres, community centres and sports facilities.
Additional funding has also been earmarked under the YPFSF to support drug prevention strategies to be developed locally, with the VEC acting as the lead agency, in urban centres where a significant drugs problem exists or has the potential to develop, specifically, including south Cork city, Galway, Waterford, Limerick, Bray and Carlow. In the case of south Cork city and Galway city, the Cabinet committee has approved the allocation of £1 million over three years to implement their strategies. Decisions in relation to funding strategies for the other areas will be made in due course.
