Jim O'Callaghan
Question:15. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the timeline for the assessment of applications under the large-scale sport infrastructure fund. [37409/20]
View answerThursday, 19 November 2020
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Written answers
The Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) was launched in 2018 to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects including swimming pools with at least €100m being made available over the period to 2027. The criteria used for scoring applications was published in advance of the assessment work commencing. Amongst the criteria used in this regard was the priority given to projects by the relevant local authority or National Governing Body of Sport, the likelihood of increasing participation or improving high performance and the level of own-funding being provided by the applicant. Following the conclusion of the application process, provisional allocations totalling €77.4m for 25 projects under Stream 2 (construction) of the LSSIF were announced on 10 January 2020. On 13th January additional provisional allocations of €5m for a further 7 projects under Stream 1 (design) of the LSSIF were announced.
The evaluation procedures and guidelines for the LSSIF provide that once provisional allocations are announced, the successful projects will undergo a further process of due diligence. This process includes a further review of projects including economic appraisals and feasibility studies as appropriate to comply with the Public Spending Code. This process has been completed in respect of five projects and my Department is arranging for grant agreements to issue to these projects through the Chief State Solicitor's Office.
The timeline for completing the due diligence procedure varies from project to project depending upon the size and complexity of projects, the response time of applicants to queries raised and the quality of the material submitted in response to queries. This work is continuing and the priority in the short term is on advancing the projects allocated funding in January. While it is not proposed to open the LSSIF for new applications at present, it is planned to review progress on existing grants in 2021 when the question of whether or not it would be appropriate to seek new applications will be considered.