Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
520. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount expended under the large-scale sport infrastructure fund to date; the amount made available and spent under each respective project; her plans for the future of the fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39797/22]
View answerThe Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) was launched in 2018 to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects, including swimming pools.
The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 and, thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals. The total funding applied for under the scheme significantly exceeded the amount available to allocate and it was not possible to allocate grants to many worthy projects or to provide successful applicants with the full amount that they had sought. Details of all applications made and grants awarded are published on the Government's website and can be accessed at www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/
Four grantees have commenced the implementation of their projects and to date a total of €898,666 has been paid to projects as set out in the table below.
|
Project |
Amount Paid to Date |
|
Newcastlewest Regional Athletics Hub |
€813,437 |
|
Redevelopment of Dalymount Park |
€85,229 |
The remaining projects are at various stages of assessment with many at a stage where funding agreements are being finalised.
While the priority in the short term is to advance all of the successful projects, as it is now two years since the first allocations were made, and in view of the issues faced by grantees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was considered timely to review progress on all projects allocated grants. My Department has now met with all successful grantees and work is at an advanced stage in terms of completing the review. I expect this work to be finalised shortly.
Once that review is complete the scope for awarding any additional grants, adjusting the level of existing grants and the timing of any new call for proposals will be considered.
