Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 22 Oct 2002

Vol. 555 No. 5

Written Answers. - Sports Capital Programme.

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Ceist:

264 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if it is current active Government policy to encourage co-operation between sports clubs in seeking scarce funding for new projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19347/02]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The national lottery funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sports and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the State towards the provision of sports and recreational facilities. Among the main objectives of the programme are developing an integrated and planned approach to the development of sports and recreational facilities and encouraging the multi-purpose use of facilities at national, regional and community level by clubs, community organisations and national governing bodies of sport.

In line with the aims of the programme to develop a planned approach to facility provision, applicants are encouraged to consult with other clubs and community groups, including schools with sports and recreational facilities in their areas, and the local authority, in developing an application for funding. The purpose of this consultation should be to enable applicants to include the required formal confirmation in their application form that the proposed development does not result in overlap and/or duplication with existing facilities. In addition, organisations developing projects at national and regional level are requested to ensure that their proposals are consistent with the priorities of their national governing bodies of sport.

All applications are treated on their merits and are assessed in accordance with detailed criteria for the programme. These assessment criteria have been developed to help assess applications so that those offering the greatest community benefit are supported. The criteria include the extent to which applicants have consulted with other groups in the community and with the local authority in developing their proposals and the outcome of those consultations.

Under the 2002 sports capital programme, a total of almost €20.4 million was allocated to projects classified as "community/mixed," incorporating both community projects, providing sports and recreational facilities for many different organisations and sports activities, and mixed projects, where clubs and organisations from two or more sports combined to submit an application to the programme.

My Department is currently drawing up a new long-term strategic plan for the provision of sports facilities throughout the country. A national audit of local sports facilities will also be carried out. This plan will help me to identify future requirements and policies regarding the provision of facilities, given the massive investment in facilities which this and the previous Government have undertaken since 1997.