Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
605. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the process by which a sports club is determined to be in a disadvantaged area or not; if a club can seek to be included in one of the grounds of demographic changes; the way in which a club might make such a case; the regularity with which the classifications are reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18214/21]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1st March. By the closing date, 3,106 applications were submitted seeking over €200m in funding. This is the highest number of applications ever received.
The scoring system and assessment procedures for the 2020 round are being finalised at present and will be published prior to the detailed assessment of individual applications commencing. In assessing applications, the Department primarily uses the Pobal Index of Deprivation to award marks to projects from disadvantaged areas. The index is based on information from the national census and is updated by Pobal after each census has been taken. Under this round it is also intended to award marks based on information supplied by applicants on how they intend to attract disadvantaged groups to use their proposed facilities. Full details in regard to this marking will be contained in the published scoring system.
