asked the Minister for Education if he will provide details of capital grant allocations for recreation facilities for 1986.

A total sum of £1.2 million is available in 1986 to meet existing commitments and for allocation to new projects under my Department's capital grant scheme. A large number of grant approvals in 1985 have involved the carry over of heavy commitments to 1986 and because of this it will be possible to assist only a small number of new projects this year.

The amount available for allocation to new projects in 1986 cannot be determined precisely at this stage as it depends on the level of expenditure on existing commitments in the present year. The best estimate at present is that a sum of about £300,000 will be available for allocation and expenditure on new projects. Further money may become available later, depending on the trend of expenditure on existing commitments.

The following grants have been allocated in 1986 to date:

Decisions on the allocation of the remainder of the £300,000 expected to be available for allocation will be made shortly.

Will there be anything for Longford?

Yes.

Could the Minister give some indication as to the difference between the allocations for last year under this heading as against the £300,000 mentioned for this year?

A total commitment of £1.962 million was allocated in 1985 in respect of 113 new projects, of which £906,000 was paid in 1985. A sum of £1.313 million has been provided towards the construction of recreational facilities in 1986. That includes a sum of £0.113 million in respect of five projects to be assisted under the west Cork development package. Of this, £1.2 million is in respect of projects under the national plan.

Why was there such a heavy carry over from last year? Was it due to the fact that the organisations were not ready to take up the funds available or were there other reasons?

It was that fact, as well as the very large number of applications received in the Department. Work was under way on many of these projects and they were at different stages of construction.

Will the Minister consider a few proposals from Longford which were left back from last year? Now that the Minister represents that constituency I hope he will be more generous this year.

Yes, I will indeed.