Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 May 2006
88 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount available to his Department in 2006 for spending on sports or recreational grants, major and minor throughout the country; the way in which this figure compares to 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21273/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra94 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the extent to which he provided or intends to provide sporting and recreational grants throughout the country on a county basis with particular reference to the growing needs in urban and rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21279/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to reply to Questions Nos. 88 and 94 together.
The provision for sport in the 2006 book of estimates, including the Sports Capital Programme, the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road, Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited, the Irish Sports Council, Horseracing Ireland and Bord na gCon, amounts to €228.795 million. A further €14.5 million in capital expenditure is also available to my Department by way of a deferred surrender of capital savings in 2005, bringing the total sports provision in 2006 to €243.295 million.
The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, is the primary means of providing capital funding for sports facilities to clubs and voluntary and community organisations in every county throughout the country. The Programme is advertised on an annual basis.
In 2005 a total of €56.8 million was paid out in respect of grants allocated under the Sports Capital Programmes. Since 1998 a total of €395 million has now been allocated to 4,923 projects throughout the country providing for the needs of organisations and participants in the areas of physical recreation, training, coaching and competition at all levels of sport in Ireland. Almost €68 million has been provided in the 2006 Estimates for the provision of sport and physical recreational facilities. A total of 1,338 applications for funding under the 2006 sports capital programme were received and are being assessed in my Department. I will be announcing the allocations for 2006 as soon as the assessment process is completed.
In terms of urban and rural disadvantage under the sports capital programme, the designated areas since 2002 are those that have been selected by Government for special support through the RAPID 1, RAPID 2, Local Drugs Task Force and CLÁR Programmes. These programmes are all managed by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA).
Applications from disadvantaged areas score higher during assessment of sports capital projects and are also required to have less of minimum funding (20% of the project cost rather than 30%). Over the period 2001 to 2005, a total of €141 million was allocated under the Sports Capital Programme to almost 1,500 projects in respect of the provision of facilities in areas categorised as disadvantaged.
In addition, projects in designated disadvantaged areas that have been allocated sports capital funding may also qualify to receive additional top-up funding under the CLÁR and RAPID programmes. In 2005, DCRGA announced €1.092 million in top-ups for sports capital programme grantees under the 2005 programme located in CLÁR areas and €2.257 million for sports capital programme grantees located in RAPID areas.
In 2005, €14.1 million was spent under my Department's Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme supporting the construction/ refurbishment of public swimming pools. So far in 2006, I have approved grant aid for 3 projects and contract documents for 5 projects and one pool in Drogheda has just opened. In 2006, €32.3 million has been provided in my Department's vote in respect of this programme, and so far this year I have allocated €11,427,642 towards three swimming pool projects at Portlaoise, Portarlington and Longford.
The Irish Sports Council was established in 1999 as the statutory body responsible for the promotion and development of sport in Ireland. It spent more than €34 million in 2005 on initiating, developing and enhancing a wide range of programmes aimed at increasing participation and raising standards in Irish sport. Almost €41 million has been allocated to the Council for 2006, which will ensure the continuation of its work in advancing and supporting sport at all levels in Ireland.
This unprecedented level of investment in sport is clear evidence of the importance which the Government attaches to the putting in place of modern well equipped and well managed sporting facilities supported by a wide range of programmes which are having a real benefit in our communities.
89 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the extent to which his Department has become involved in the provision of sporting, recreational and athletic facilities adjacent to or in conjunction with schools throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21274/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe national lottery-funded Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis.
Primary and post-primary schools wishing to be considered for funding under the programme may only apply for funding jointly with local sports clubs or community groups and must meet other conditions including a requirement that the local community will have significant access to the proposed facility, at least 30 hours a week throughout the year, when it is not being used by the school itself. Any sports facility proposed for funding by a sporting organisation and which would be located within school grounds must meet these same conditions.
While my Department has no data available to it regarding sporting or recreational facilities that may be located adjacent to schools, grant allocations under the Sports Capital Programme to applications for funding made in conjunction with schools since my Department was formed are as follows: 2003, €400,000; 2004, €637,000; 2005, €634,000.
