Sports Capital Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2012

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Ceisteanna (619)

Sean Fleming

Ceist:

665 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of the €30 million budget for sports capital grants in 2012 in his Department that is available to fund future works on sports facilities; the amount that is expected to be paid in relation to commitments from previous years that have yet to be paid; if he will provide the overall figure of commitments that have been approved by him for grants in earlier years that have not been paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5119/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Michael Ring)

A sum of €21.2m has been provided in 2012 for the D3 subhead, out of which sports capital grant payments are paid. In addition, there is carryover of €3.6m into this subhead in 2012. This funding will primarily be used to meet commitments from previous years.

As at 20 January last, a total of €3.446m was outstanding from allocations made in 2011.

I recently announced that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport will be advertising two new rounds of the Sports Capital Programme between now and 2016.

Officials in my Department are currently making the necessary arrangements with a view to launching a new round of the Sports Capital Programme early this year. The advertisement of any new round and the amount to be allocated will be decided in consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.