72 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if she will provide funding towards the construction of a handball alley in an area (details supplied) of high unemployment and a large youth population, which urgently needs such an amenity to further the development of community based leisure and sporting amenities in the interest of social cohesion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3972/11]

Under the terms of the Sport Capital Programme grants are allocated to sporting organisations towards the provision of new facilities or the renovation/extension of existing facilities. Since 1998, over €739 million has been allocated to over 7,400 projects nationwide. No decision has been made on the timing of the next round of the Sports Capital Programme. When such a Programme is launched, it will be open to the organisation in question to apply for a grant if it has a suitable proposal.