Tony Gregory
Ceist:145 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if, in view of the special circumstances, his Department will accept a late grant application from an organisation (details supplied) in Dublin 8. [7280/01]
Written Answers. - Sports Capital Programme.
Gay Mitchell
Ceist:147 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will accept an application for a grant from a gymnastics club (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will give them financial assistance in view of the circumstances (details supplied). [7300/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 147 together.
The Sports Capital Programme for 2001 was advertised in all the national newspapers on Friday, 15 December 2000 and in all the national Sunday newspapers on Sunday, 17 December 2000. The advertisement outlined the background to the programme, supplied contact information and specified the deadline for receipt of completed applications as 5 p.m. on 9 February 2001. This method of publicising the programme has also been used in previous years. Details of the programme and the closing date for applications was also placed on the Department's website.
In excess of 1,450 applications were received before the specified deadline and these will be evaluated against the programme's assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines which accompanied the application form. Deadlines under this programme are always strictly observed and it is not possible for me to accept a late application in this case, in fairness both to those who followed the rules and guidelines of the programme and also to those other applicants whose application forms were received after the stipulated deadline and were not included in the programme. I intend to advertise the 2002 sports capital programme before the end of this year and it will be open to the organisation in question to submit an application for that programme if it so wishes.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:146 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation when a decision will be reached on the application by Waterford Corporation for the further development of the regional sports centre (details supplied) in Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7293/01]
Under the sports capital programme administered by my Department, applications for funding were invited by way of public advertisement on 15 and 17 December 2000 and the closing date for receipt of applications under the 2001 programme was 9 February 2001.
I have received an application under the 2001 programme from the organisation in question, one of over 1,450 received in total. The process of assessing the applications is about to begin in accordance with the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. I intend to make allocations under this programme as soon as possible after all applications have been assessed.
Question No. 147 answered with Question No. 145.