Brian O'Shea
Ceist:194 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the assistance he can give to a club (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18531/02]
Written Answers. - Sports Funding.
The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, provides funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country towards the provision of sport and recreational facilities. Projects must be directly related to the provision of sport and recreation facilities and be of a capital nature which for the purpose of the programme, is defined as expenditure on the improvement or construction of an asset and includes any costs directly incurred in this process; and purchase of permanently based sports equipment, that is, it is securely housed and will remain in use for five years or more. The programme, however, does not assist in the purchase of sites, premises or personal equipment, such as sports kits, gloves, personal protective clothing etc.
The programme is advertised on an annual basis. The closing date for the receipt of completed applications under the 2002 programme was 4 January last and provisional grant allocations under the programme were announced on 29 March. All funding under the 2002 programme has been completed.
Should the project of the organisation in question be in keeping with the basic criteria listed above, then it will be open to it to apply under the 2003 sports capital programme when it is advertised. Guidelines, terms and conditions for the programme will be issued with the application forms.
In addition to the funds available under the sports capital programme section 41 of the Finance Act, 2002, introduced a new scheme to provide for tax relief on donations made to approved sports bodies for the funding of sports capital projects. Guidelines on the main provisions of this scheme have been prepared and I have arranged for a copy of these guidelines to be forwarded to the club in question.
Jack Wall
Ceist:195 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the grants available or the grants his Department are giving to the Curragh Youth Project to ensure that it continues for the benefit of the youth in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18532/02]
My Department provides grant assistance under the National Lottery funded sports capital programme and ACCESS, arts and culture capital enhancement support scheme 2001-04. In the case of the latter, all funding is fully committed at present.
The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, provides funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country towards the provision of sport and recreational facilities. Projects must be directly related to the provision of sport and recreation facilities and be of a capital nature, which, for the purpose of the programme, is defined as, expenditure on the improvement or construction of an asset and includes any costs directly incurred in this process – purchase of land or a site is not eligible under the programme; purchase of permanently based sports equipment, that is, it is securely housed, and will remain in use for five years or more. Funding is not provided under the programme to meet the running costs of any project.
The programme is advertised on an annual basis. The closing date for the receipt of completed applications under the 2002 programme was 4 January last and provisional grant allocations under the programme were announced on 29 March. All funding under the 2002 programme has been allocated.
Should the organisation in question have a project, which is in keeping with the basic criteria listed above, then it will be open to it to apply under the 2003 sports capital programme when it is next advertised. Guidelines, terms and conditions for the programme will be issued with the application forms. My Department is not providing any grants to the Curragh Youth Project at present.