Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 January 2018
1408. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking through the sports capital grants scheme or by other methods to encourage the sharing of sports facilities by different sports or to promote the development of multi-sport facilities. [55261/17]
View answerThe sharing of facilities is one of the stated objectives of the Sports Capital Programme (SCP). Applicants are advised at application stage that they will obtain extra marks at assessment if they show that the proposed facilities will be shared. Under the SCP, schools, colleges and Education and Training Boards may only apply for funding jointly with a local sports club or group. Of the 1,807 allocations made to local projects under the 2017 programme, almost 500 were to organisations that stated in their application that they would share their facilities with other groups. The SCP also allocates generous funding to multi-sport and community sport facilities. Details of all the allocations made under the most recent round of the programme, including those to multi-sports facilities are available on my Department's website.
In relation to future capital funding for sports projects, my Department is currently finalising a review of national sports policy which includes a specific focus on how Government should optimally fund sports facilities in the years ahead.
