Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 November 2021
115. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of and position regarding the stream 1 large-scale sport infrastructure fund grant to Dublin City Council towards the overall design cost for the redevelopment of Dalymount Park; the funds drawn down to date; the expected completion date of that phase of work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54698/21]
View answer117. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her Department's role in supporting the redevelopment of Dalymount Park; and the plans that exist for the retention of Tolka Park as a soccer venue independent of that process. [54703/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 117 together.
My Department provides grant assistance for sporting facilities through the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). Under the SCEP, grants of up to €300,000 are available to community organisations, sports clubs, national governing bodies of sport and local authorities to develop or refurbish sports facilities. The LSSIF is designed to provide financial support to sports projects where the grant sought is greater than the maximum available under the SCEP. The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 and to date approximately €86.4m has been provisionally awarded to 33 different proposals.
Dublin City Council's proposal for the development of Dalymount Park was among the successful projects and a grant of €918,750 was awarded towards the cost of bringing the project to tender stage. The evaluation procedures and guidelines for the LSSIF provide that once provisional allocations are announced, the projects being suggested for funding undergo a further process of due diligence. This process has been completed for the Dalymount project and a formal grant agreement has been signed by Dublin City Council and my Department. Design work has commenced and it is expected that it should advance so that planning permission for the development can be sought in the second quarter of 2022. This is with a view to tendering for construction works later that year subject to funds being available for same. Dublin City Council has yet to drawdown funds in respect of the project but I understand that a request for funding will be made to my Department before the end of the year.
In relation to Tolka Park, as the stadium is owned by Dublin City Council, any future plan for the ground is a matter for the Council in the first instance and I understand that no definitive decision has been taken in that regard.
While it is not proposed to open the LSSIF for new applications at present, my Department is undertaking a review of the LSSIF which is expected to be complete shortly. This review will look at, inter alia, progress on all existing grants and the timing of a new call for proposals will also be considered.
Any future application for funding for either Dalymount or Tolka Park under either the SCEP or LSSIF will be considered on its own merits in line with the relevant assessment criteria.
