Sports Capital Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 March 2012

Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Ceisteanna (2)

Sandra McLellan

Ceist:

2Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the amount of funding available under the sports capital programme; the criteria for the different levels of funds; the cap, if any, on the funding criteria; if all areas will be included on this occasion; the closing date for applications for funding; when it is hoped that funding allocations will be approved for applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17162/12]

Freagraí ó Béal (8 píosaí cainte)

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

I am pleased to advise the House that earlier today I announced a new round of the sports capital programme.

Allocations of €30 million which will benefit sports clubs, community groups, local authorities, schools and national governing bodies of sport will be made in the late autumn or early winter of this year.  Applications will be accepted from all areas of the country.

A maximum grant of €300,000 may be applied for by local clubs and groups. National and regional projects may apply for a greater level of funding but these projects must be designated as such by the national governing body of that particular sport.

Online applications and those made in Irish, along with a hard copy of the signed application form and all supporting documentation, must reach the Department's offices in Killarney by 5 p.m. on Friday, 1 June 2012.  Paper-based applications and all supporting documentation must reach the Department's offices in Killarney by 5 p.m. on Friday, 11 May 2012.

All applications received by the closing dates will be assessed on the basis of a number of criteria such as the effect the proposed project will have on active participation in sport and the level of socio-economic disadvantage in the area. Application forms and more information can be obtained on the Department's website at www.dttas.ie

Deputy Sandra McLellan

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. He has answered most of my questions in great detail. I am delighted that he has announced today the sports capital programme on which he must be congratulated. The importance of sport in the life of a person is invaluable. Since the announcement of the sports capital grant programme in the budget, numerous sporting clubs and organisations have contacted me asking where and how they can apply and the criteria involved. I had a telephone call from a constituent 20 minutes before I came into the Chamber regarding a handball alley in Mallow because he heard the announcement on the 1 o'clock news. I told him I would revert to him today with the details.

Are the Gaeltacht areas included in the programme and are the application forms available as gaeilge? With the scarcity of resources and money, what are the Minister's views on some of the clubs and organisations sharing resources? Will this programme target disadvantaged areas?

Deputy Michael Ring

I thank the Deputy for her kind words. The Deputy is correct. This is the first time since 2008 that we have had a new round of the sports capital programme. It was difficult enough to get the funding and I compliment my colleagues who supported me very strongly as establishing this programme was a commitment in the programme for Government. The Deputy is quite correct that clubs throughout the country want to upgrade their facilities.

The Deputy asked me three questions. Gaeltachtaí are included; they were not included in 2008 but they are now. Everybody in the country is included and can make an application. Application forms will be available in Irish and applications can be made as Gaeilge. With regard to disadvantaged areas I have decreased the local contribution in RAPID areas from 10% to 5% and in CLÁR areas from 15% to 10%. The overall contribution for people outside of these areas will be 15%.

We have also made the forms easier for people to understand so it will be easier for them to make applications. I will not state it will be any easier for them to get funding as there will be a big demand for it. What I am saying is that the fund is open now and I have broken it down into two categories with €26 million for projects under €300,000 and €4 million for regional projects. It is a good news story. The Government made a commitment on this and sports capital funding is now open. Everyone has an opportunity to make an application.

Deputy Sandra McLellan

Under the previous Administration certain areas benefited a little more because there were Ministers in the area. Will the Minister of State agree this should be an example of the programme for change?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

A tough one.

Deputy Timmy Dooley

That leaves Mayo out.

Deputy Sandra McLellan

I am speaking about Cork East in particular.

Deputy Michael Ring

The Deputy is a bit like the media who think because I have become a Minister of State that I cannot represent my constituency. I want to tell the media I will represent my constituency. I am not speaking about grant aid, I am speaking about health, social welfare and agriculture. To answer the question, every application will be judged on its merit and criteria will be set.

The Deputy asked about shared facilities and she is correct in what she said. We want to target facilities that will be shared and used so we do not have facilities throughout the country lying idle for the summer months, at weekends or during the week. Facilities should be made available. This country has limited resources and the programme will provide €30 million. On a previous occasion it provided €100 million but we expect to get better value now. We expect costs to decrease by 30%. We believe many of the costs on the previous occasion were inflated. Many clubs took on schemes and never finished them or drew down the funding because they ran into difficulties. We hope to target disadvantaged areas and facilities that will be completed, particularly from the bottom up. This is my proposal and I hope to carry it through.