Government denies bias over grant allocations

LABOUR last night called for greater transparency in how Government sports grants are allocated as €2.4 million of the latest €21m worth of funding announced went to Finance Minister Brian Cowen’s constituency.

Mr Cowen denied there was anything unusual about the large awards to his Laois/Offaly base.

“I reject the contention this is something that can be viewed in that way,” Mr Cowen’s spokesman said.

“Some significant grants were national awards and where they went in the country was decided on by organisations like the GAA.

“And the swimming pool in Tullamore, for instance, has been in the planning for six or seven years.

“In the regional projects announced last month Laois and Offaly were in the bottom six counties,” he added.

Big winners in the Laois/Offaly constituency included Tullamore sports and leisure centre which received €1.5m, the Offaly GAA board which was granted €400,000, Laois GAA which was awarded €250,000 and athletics in the county got a €150,000 boost.

Labour Sports spokesman Jack Wall said he would like to see greater transparency involved in the way the grants are awarded by the Government.

Sports Minister John O’Donoghue’s spokesman said the allocations were made after “a vigorous applications process which considers key criteria” and the award to the Tullamore sports complex was similar to a €1m grant to a Dublin swimming pool.

Other big winners around the country included Cork Constitution Football Club, which received €400,000, as did the Cork Institute of Technology for better changing facilities. And Mallow swimming complex was allocated €300,000.

Basketball Ireland was granted €400,000 for refurbishment of the National Arena in Tallaght and the Irish Amateur Boxing Association received €350,000.

The Irish Cricket Union’s indoor centre was granted €240,000, while Tennis Ireland was allocated a further €750,000 for its national centre in Dublin.

Announcing the awards, Mr O’Donoghue said spending on recreation and fitness saved money in the long run.

“Money spent providing for sport is always money well spent. I will never accept any argument against it.

“The Council of Europe stated that for every €1 spent on sport it saves €12 on spending on health services,” he said.

Mr O’Donoghue added the Sports Capital Programme had allocated €470 million since 1998 to a total of 5,721 projects.