Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
418. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount of public funding or public support received by a club (details supplied) in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63125/21]
View answer419. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount of public funding or public support received by League of Ireland clubs in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63126/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 419 together.
Sport Ireland is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including the allocation of funding under its various programmes. Sport Ireland does not allocate funding directly to clubs but channels it through the relevant National Governing Bodies of sport, in this case the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).
I have referred the Deputy’s question to Sport Ireland for direct reply in relation to any funding or support provided to the FAI for League of Ireland clubs, including the club mentioned by the Deputy, in 2020, including any funding under the Covid-19 funding schemes. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
In relation to my Department’s role, the 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. League of Ireland clubs are entitled to apply directly for SCEP funding up to a value of €300,000 for assistance to upgrade and improve stadia.
The Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) is designed for 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, thus far, approximately €86.4m has been awarded to 33 different proposals.
Details of all allocations, including those made to League of Ireland clubs, under the SCEP since 2000 are published at www.gov.ie/en/collection/471ed5-sports-capital-allocations/. Details of the allocations made under the LSSIF are available at www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/.
