Tom Hayes
Ceist:388 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the plans the Government has to provide better sports facilities for Special Olympic athletes. [30808/03]
Written Answers. - Sports Capital Programme.
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 country towards the provision of sports and recreational facilities. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. One of the main objectives of the programme is to assist such organisations with the development of appropriate facilities in suitable locations that will maximise use in terms of participation in sport and recreation; with the provision that the facilities should be high quality, safe, well designed and sustainable for both the user and the provider. Grant-aided projects must ensure that their facility-equipment will be accessible to people with disabilities.
A total of over €52.8 million was allocated to 617 individual projects under the 2003 sports capital programme. Many of these projects included works to improve access for people with special needs to existing facilities. All new construction works funded under the programme are required to provide disabled access to the facility from the outset.
I recently invited applications for consideration under the 2004 sports capital programme. The closing date for the receipt of completed applications is 16 January 2004. It is open to any Special Olympics organisation, or to any sports club or voluntary or community organisation representing Special Olympics athletes, to apply for funding under the programme. Application forms can be obtained from the sports unit of my Department or can be downloaded from my Department's website,www.gov.ie/arts-sport-tourismUnder the local authority swimming pool programme, which is also administered by my Department, grants of up to €3.8 million are available towards the refurbishment and provision of new and replacement pools. Part of the eligible expenditure under the programme includes facilities for easy access to the pool by people with disabilities. The local authority has the lead role in the ongoing management of the pools, including matters such as opening hours and admission charges.