Huge Demand for Sports Capital Grants in Kildare

Kildare South Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon has received details of the amount of applications received from Kildare Sports Clubs for the 2012 Sports Capital Grant Programme.

“In response to a parliamentary question I received confirmation from Minister for State Michael Ring that 77 applications were received from clubs in Co. Kildare to a value of almost €8.8m. These applications would make up almost 30% of the total fund available for the country of €30m if all were awarded.”

Speaking in the Dail on this topic this afternoon Deputy Heydon compared the allocation process to the Loaves and Fishes “it is very disappointing that many of the applications received from Kildare will not be successful, this pile up in requests from Kildare clubs is a direct result of the failure of the previous government to offer any sports capital grants since 2008”.

“I have asked the Minister to take account of the huge change in the population of Kildare over the last number of years when deciding on the awards. Kildare has seen a doubling of its population from 104,122 in 1981 to 210,312 in 2011 with the resultant pressure on space and recreational facilities in the area.

These scarce resources need to be allocated where they are needed most and I will continue to work with the Department and the Minister to ensure that South Kildare clubs and organisations get a fair allocation of the grant” concluded Heydon.