Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
637. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will confirm that sports capital funding secured by a club (details supplied) can be re-purposed towards another project which also fits within the criteria of sports capital. [28000/23]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (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 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 grants were announced on Tuesday 31 May 2022 and included a grant to the club referred to by the Deputy. The total allocation of €166.6 million represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP.
The priority in recent months has been to advance the successful applications, which number almost 2,900, under the 2020 round to "formal approval" and grant drawdown stage and my Department continues to support and guide grantees as they manage their grants. This requires detailed engagement with all grantees and, where necessary, requests for extensions and changes of purpose of grants can usually be accommodated provided the proposed new project complies with the terms and conditions of the Programme. Accordingly, the club in question should correspond directly with officials in the Sports Capital Division of my Department in the first instance who will be happy to assist.
