I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 52 together.
Under the national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. Funding is allocated on the basis of applications received. Applications are invited each year and must be submitted for each year in which funding is requested by an organisation.
In the context of the 2003 programme I intend to invite applications in March 2003 at which time the programme will be advertised publicly with details of closing date for the receipt of completed applications. On receipt of the applications and analysis of their requested funding and taking into account the allocations made over the past five years the level of allocation will then be decided.
The applications will be assessed in my Department in accordance with the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme, which will be issued to prospective applicants along with their application forms. It would not be possible to say how long the assessment might take until my Department has received all applications.
