Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross has insisted he did not interfere in the process where a private, fee-paying school in his constituency was awarded a sports grant of €150,000.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Sean O'Rourke, Mr Ross said that he did not make representations and took a hands-off approach in relation to the Sports Capital Grant awarded to Wesley College this month.
The school, which is in Mr Ross’s Dublin Rathdown constituency, has said it will use the money for the resurfacing of a hockey pitch.
The decision has been criticised by other schools that did not receive grants despite lodging applications.
There have also been calls by opposition politicians for greater transparency within the sports grant process.
Mr Ross said the grant application by Wesley College was independently scored by department officials and he signed off on their decision without observations or comment.
He said the application was initially refused and he said he also signed off on the refusal.
The school appealed the decision and was then awarded the money.
Shane Ross says he did not interfere in sports grant process | https://t.co/Gd83fVTvXu pic.twitter.com/Y8ZDzTvK14
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 22, 2018
- View list of Sports Capital Grants approved at first instance
- View list of invalid Sports Capital Grant applications
- View list of Sports Capital Grants approved on appeal
Delighted to confirm that @wesleycollege has been granted €150,000 as part of Sports Capital Programme. The funding will ensure the resurfacing of the hockey pitch and will benefit the school as well as @YMCAHC pic.twitter.com/HlPSK0mUoA
— Shane Ross (@Shane_RossTD) March 9, 2018
Asked about a tweet expressing his delight at the award, Mr Ross said he was "cheering for" Wesley College but he said that was not interference.
He admitted the tweet was probably a mistake and he said he had previously sent some pretty irresponsible tweets.
