Sports Capital Programme Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 April 2014

Wednesday, 2 April 2014

Ceisteanna (23, 38, 41, 44, 54, 58)

Charles Flanagan

Ceist:

23. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will announce confirmation of successful applicants under the current round of sports capital funding. [14997/14]

Heather Humphreys

Ceist:

38. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the sports capital programme 2014; the number of applications received on a county basis; if special consideration will be given to clubs and organisations who were not successful under the last round of the programme; when he expects to announce the successful applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15140/14]

Sandra McLellan

Ceist:

41. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a full and detailed update on the sports capital grant; and if he will prioritise areas of social need and those sharing services, or if funding will be evenly distributed across all counties. [15099/14]

Ray Butler

Ceist:

44. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the sports capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15003/14]

Joe Carey

Ceist:

54. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update in relation to the sports capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14973/14]

Eoghan Murphy

Ceist:

58. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the sports capital programme. [15063/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 38, 41, 44, 54 and 58 together.  

I was delighted that Minister Ring was able to launch the 2014 round of the Sports Capital Programme earlier this year. €40 million is available for allocation. The application period closed on Monday 10 March. A list of all applications, broken down by county, will be published on the Department's website shortly.  In excess of 2,000 applications were received by my Department by the closing date.  

The applications will first be checked by officials in the Department to see if they are valid and then assessed against criteria that are designed to give higher scores to applications that will increase participation, where facilities will be shared, that are from designated disadvantaged areas, that have not received funding in the past and are ready to be progressed as soon as possible. Minister Ring will announce the allocations as soon as possible after the assessment process has been completed later this year.