asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make available at least £70,000 from the national lottery funds to a leisure co-operative (details supplied) in Dublin 10 in view of the facts of the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I have received an application for a grant under the amenity grants scheme, financed from the national lottery surplus, in respect of the building of a store ancillary to this sports and leisure complex. I am not yet in a position to give a decision on this application.

I have not received any application in respect of the sports and leisure complex which, I understand, is already completed and would not be eligible for consideration for a grant.

When will the Minister be in a position to take decisions in relation to the disbursement of moneys from this fund in relation to this and other applications?

There has been no application submitted in respect of the element mentioned in the question. However, it is my intention — and I should like to do it very soon — to give an indication to the organisations that will benefit from the amenity grant scheme so that they can get on with the work. I should like to do so within a couple of weeks.

Will that mean that the moneys allocated will have to be spent within this financial year?

That is what I should like, yes.

Could the Minister distinguish between what he would like and whether there would be a requirement?

No. As long as the work has started and there is a commitment to the work — and the work has been started in 1988 — then grant approval can be applied to it and be paid as soon as the work has been completed. I would encourage everybody eligible for a grant to start the work as soon as possible.