I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 85 together.
The recently published National Development Plan (NDP) contains a commitment to establish a new “Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund” (LSSIF) with at least €100m available over the coming years. My officials have commenced drafting the terms and conditions of the new LSSIF and are currently engaging with relevant stakeholders in this regard. An announcement in relation to when applications will be accepted will be made once these terms and conditions are finalised.
It is intended that the Fund will be for larger projects where the proposed Government contribution exceeds the amount currently available for individual projects under the Sports Capital Programme. The fund itself and all projects funded under the scheme will be subject to the Public Spending Code and State Aid requirements. It is envisaged that the views of the National Governing Bodies of Sport and local authorities would be sought regarding the prioritisation of projects for possible inclusion.