Funding reflects ‘ volume, quality and size of applications’

GRANTS that are partfunded by the National Lottery are available across seven government departments.

Generally there is a rigorous application process, the applicants have to meet the department’s criteria and have a tax clearance certificate.

Usually, the grants are scrutinised by officials before being submitted to the minister for final approval.

In the Department of Health, Minister James Reilly, pictured, has the ultimate authority over who gets grants, and sends out a letter confirming that a grant application has been successful.

Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald also approves the National Lottery grants going from her department.

Sports grants for capital projects are channelled through the Department of Transport, Sport and Tourism.

Last year the applications were submitted through local authorities and approved by the department. According to a department spokesman, applications were approved when the department was satisfied a project would improve sports participation.

The spokesman said: “The amount of funding allocated to individual counties reflected the volume, quality and size of applications received.’’

A spokesman for junior tourism minister Michael Ring said that he didn’t choose the individual projects.