To ask the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, pursuant to AQW 49153/11-16, what proportion of this funding has been directed at sports participation in areas of high deprivation outside Belfast; and to list these areas.

I can advise that since March 2015, Sport NI, an arms length body of my Department, provided Exchequer and Lottery funding of £118,503 to continue to deliver programmes to address sports participation in areas of high deprivation outside of Belfast. A list of these areas is attached at Annex A.

The funding arrangements for roll out of the TBUC Cross Community Youth Sports Programme to rural areas and the development of the TBUC Minor Sports Equipment Project have not yet been finalised however it is anticipated that a significant proportion of 2015/16 funding will be invested outside of Belfast in a bid to build good relations in a rural context and to tackle poverty and social exclusion.

Annex A

areas of high deprivation outside of Belfast to receive funding from sport ni