To ask the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what communication her Department, or associated arm’s-length bodies, have received from Coleraine Football Club Academy requesting financial assistance for grass roots soccer programmes; and to outline the nature of the responses provided.

In March 2014, Sport NI, an arms length body of my Department, received a request for funding through Active Awards for Sport (Round 1) from Coleraine Football Club to support the running costs associated with the Mini Soccer Academy. Sport NI advised Coleraine Football Club that the application scored below the Quality Threshold for the programme and thus failed to secure funding.

Coleraine Football Club has recently submitted an application to Active Awards for Sport (Round 2) which closed on 20 October 2014 for the Mini Soccer Academy. I understand this was towards facility hire, coach education and advertising associated with a proposed project to increase participation in football by increasing the activities it offers to children and young people. Sport NI has advised that responses will be provided to all applicants in December 2014, when they will be notified whether their applications to the programmes have been successful.