Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 January 2023
15. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department has engaged in any discussions with a sporting club (details supplied) with regards to the much-needed redevelopment of a stadium. [3707/23]
View answerAs the stadium referred to by the Deputy is owned by Dublin City Council, any decision on the future redevelopment of the ground is a matter for the Council in the first instance. In terms of my role regarding the development of largescale sporting infrastructure, my Department provides grant assistance for sporting facilities through the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).The SCEP is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas. The stadium referred to by the Deputy has received funding under the Programme previously. The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,106 applications were submitted. The final set of allocations under the 2020 round were announced at the end of May last year and the total allocation of €166.6 million represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP. My Department is currently finalising a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP. I expect to be in a position to publish this Review shortly. Any recommendations arising from the finalised Review will be reflected in the next round. Furthermore, my officials are engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the next round of the SCEP. Once this process is concluded, I will announce the exact dates from which new applications will be accepted.The National Sports Policy published in 2018 provided for the establishment of the LSSIF. The aim of the fund is to provide support for larger sports facilities where the Exchequer investment is greater than the maximum amount available under the SCEP. Approximately €86.4 million has been allocated to 33 projects to date including an allocation of €918,750 to Dublin City Council towards the overall design cost for the redevelopment of the nearby Dalymount stadium.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 in the near future. 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 Tolka Park under either the SCEP or LSSIF will be considered on its own merits in line with the relevant assessment criteria.
