This Government has signalled its commitment to the provision of sport and recreational facilities throughout the country by increasing the provision for capital expenditure for this purpose, by 476%, from £8.5 million in 1997 to £49 million in the estimates for the year 2000. The increased provision for 2000, the largest since such provision was first made, includes a trebling in funding for the sports capital programme from the National Lottery from £5 mill ion in 1997 to £15.2 million in 2000; a fourfold increase in the provision for swimming pools from £3.5 million in 1997 to over £15 million in 2000; almost £6 million towards the development of Ireland's first ever 50 metre swimming pool and the final £6 million of £20 million support towards the development of Croke Park.
The 2000 sports capital programme was advertised in early December 1999 and the closing date for the receipt of application forms is 5 pm on Friday, 11 February 2000. It will be open to local community based projects and to national and regional projects to apply for funding under the programme.