Pat Doherty (Sinn Féin)

2. asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if ‘Places for Sport’ funding will be available in the 2010-11 financial year.            (AQO 260/10)

Nelson McCausland (DUP)

It is planned that £2·13 million will be provided for Places for Sport in 2010 and 2011. That is additional to the planned allocation for the current financial year of £6·35 million and an actual allocation for the previous financial year of £1·62 million. That gives an approximate total allocation of £10·1 million over the period 2008-2011.

That represents a significant investment by my Department in facilities across Northern Ireland. The £2·13 million planned allocation for 2010-2011 relates to awards that are anticipated to be made later this year for a phase of the programme for which applications closed in June 2009.

Pat Doherty (Sinn Féin)

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Will the Minister’s Department provide the maximum possible support for the Edendork GAC in County Tyrone, which needs help to replace the clubhouse that was burned down in an arson attack in November 2008?

I shall also take this opportunity to ask the Minister whether funds are available to repair the recently vandalised facilities at the Mary Peters track.

Nelson McCausland (DUP)

The Member asked whether financial support is available for a particular club. I outlined the funding that has been allocated to the scheme, which is open to all clubs for applications, all of which, I am sure, will be treated fairly and properly. However, I cannot comment on funding for a particular club, so there the matter must rest.

The Mary Peters track is owned by Belfast City Council, to which questions about how it intends to deal with the damage should be addressed. The council may have insurance cover for the facility, so it should look into that. The Member should also be aware that the council intends to carry out a more comprehensive refurbishment of the Mary Peters track.

Nelson McCausland (DUP)

I do not have that information to hand, but I will endeavour to respond to the Member in due course.

Wallace Browne (DUP)

What benefits will the investment of public funds in sporting programmes and facilities bring before, during and after the London Olympics in 2012?

Nelson McCausland (DUP)

The investment of public funds in the elite facilities programme will provide a legacy of world-class sports facilities for use by the Northern Ireland community both at performance and grass-roots level, including by schoolchildren. The programme is about creating a facility, performance and participation legacy for Northern Ireland beyond 2012 that will also cover key gaps in facility provision across the sports infrastructure and that will significantly contribute to delivering the strategy for sport and physical recreation.

William Hay (Speaker)

Question 3 has been withdrawn.