Louise O'Reilly
Question:63. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there are further grants that can be applied for by a sports club and bar (details supplied). [39085/20]
View answerWednesday, 25 November 2020
Questions (63)
Written answers
On 2 November, I announced details of an €85 million funding package for the Irish sport sector, which has been significantly impacted by the various COVID-19 restrictions imposed since March 2020. The funding, which is being allocated by Sport Ireland, will address the existential threat to National Governing Bodies and their club networks, allowing sports organisations to offset significant losses incurred in recent months and add a semblance of certainty to planning for 2021. The significant investment will reach all levels of the sport sector with National Governing Bodies, Local Sports Partnerships and thousands of grassroots clubs across Ireland set to benefit.
The funding package includes COVID-19 funding of €70 million, which will provide support for the three main field sports organisations (the FAI, GAA and IRFU), a Resilience Fund to support the National Governing Bodies of Sport, a Sports Club Resilience Fund to support clubs, and a Sports Restart and Renewal Fund.
Under the Sports Restart and Renewal Fund, over €1.9 million was allocated to 1,637 clubs throughout the country as part of small grant schemes operated by Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs). The primary aim of the grants is to cover the costs associated with implementing Covid-19 hygiene and social distancing protocols. The club grant scheme is designed and intended to support return to sporting activities only. A breakdown of the amounts allocated by Sport Ireland to the LSPs is available on Sport Ireland's website at the following: https://www.sportireland.ie/sites/default/files/media/document/2020-11/sport-ireland-covid-19-funding-annoucement-breakdown.pdf.
As this scheme is funded by Sport Ireland and operated by the Local Sports Partnerships, I am arranging for Sport Ireland to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the specific club mentioned. Please contact my private office if you do not hear within ten working days.
In regard to the Sports Capital Programme, a full Review of the 2018 round has now been completed and the terms and conditions of the 2020 round of the programme will be based on the recommendations in the Review. I intend to publish the guide to making an application and to launch the programme before the end of this month. This will include the specific details of when applications will be accepted but I expect this to be from early December. To take account of travel and other restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic I intend to give applicants until early February to complete the application process. It is planned to make allocations later in 2021.