asked the Minister for Education if he will outline the manner in which centres were chosen for the allocation of moneys for the provision of sports complexes and leisure facilities under his recently announced scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sports and Leisure Facilities.
32.
The centres were chosen on the basis of information available in my Department in regard to the demands for sports, recreational and community facilities.
I assume this came from the Department of Finance as part of a job creation programme.
That is not correct.
How are the different centres contacted in relation to sending information to the Department?
The Deputy is not correct when he assumes that this is part of the policy for the youth job creation programme. The money available for this scheme is out of the tripartite fund. The plan was based on information, applications, and intimations in the youth sports section of my Department.
What would happen if, for one reason or another, work could not commence on a proposed centre in the current year?
The money will be directed to the centres where the local situation is such that they can take the money and proceed.
Does that mean money could be transferred from one centre to another proposed centre?
It does not mean that it can but that it will, because the purpose of this scheme is to generate employment and simultaneously provide the necessary facilities.
On the information sent to the Minister from different centres, was cognisance taken of the fact that there might be a multiplicity of sports complexes in some centres and that that might take from the quality and value of the facilities they offer?
We worked on the premise that there is urgent need for these facilities throughout the country. Unfortunately there are very few areas where what the Deputy suggests might happen. Officers from my Department are following up all these applications and are examining the situation on-site.
If it can be demonstrated that there is no need for any of these projects, a change will be made.
Does the Minister envisage that this scheme will continue next year?
I am a born optimist and I will be very disappointed if there is not a continuation of this scheme or some other scheme which would provide the facilities which are so urgently required.
How many applications did the Department receive for such centres?
I want to remind Deputies that it was made known to me and my Department that money we had not expected had become available. Where it was urgent and we could not take the time needed to advertise, announce closing dates and so on, I interpreted the position in such a way that we should use the information to hand and spend this money on these urgent cases.
How many centres were so chosen?
In the three different categories, 64.
Question No. 33 postponed.