292 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if the sports capital programme and the local authority swimming pool programme will recommence in 2011 [47872/10]

Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department, and part funded from the proceeds of the National Lottery, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. While no new call for applications for funding has been made since 2008 over 1,000 payments have been made so far in 2010 and all of the €48m provided in the Estimates will be distributed to clubs across the country by the end of the year. For 2011 a provision of €28m has been made to cover the payment of grants previously allocated.

Given the current budgetary situation and the high level of outstanding commitments it was considered prudent to pause prior to announcing the next round of the Programme and no date has been set for the next round of the Programme.

It is not intended to launch a new round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme in 2011.