Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2023
215. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department remain in contact with the various applicants for major and minor sports grants throughout Kildare North in an effort to ensure maximum response to an area experiencing rapid population increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46005/23]
View answer222. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the emphasis she expects to place on sport in the coming year, with particular reference to the need of facilities in all areas throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46012/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 222 together.
I recognise both the importance of sport and physical activity for the health and well-being of our society and the need to support the sporting sector, thereby ensuring that opportunities are in place to allow all members of society to participate in sport. Last week we announced an overall 2024 budget allocation of €183.3 million for sport. That is an increase of €8 million (4.6%) compared to this year.
The resources we have secured for sport next year will allow Sport Ireland to continue to support the sport sector, which is still recovering from the challenges of Covid-19 and, like all sectors, continues to face difficulties around rising energy costs and general cost of living increases.
With regard to capital assistance, the 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 the investment in disadvantaged areas.
The 2023 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Friday 8 September. Work is now underway on finalising the "Scoring Assessment and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round and I hope to have this published in the coming weeks. Once published, the detailed assessment work can commence. In this regard, it is planned to assess the "Equipment-only" applications first with a view to announcing these grants in the coming months. Work will then commence on the assessment of the capital applications with the allocations likely to be announced later in 2024. Once all allocations are finalised, an announcement will be made in relation to the next call for proposals.
In addition to the SCEP, the National Sports Policy which was published in 2018 provided for a new Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The aim of the fund is to provide Exchequer support for larger sports projects and facilities where the required Exchequer investment is greater than the maximum amount available under the SCEP. To date, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals.
The first LSSIF allocations were announced just prior to the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic obviously gave rise to significant financial challenges for all grantees with many of them having to reprioritise their own expenditure plans due to reductions in their income streams. In more recent times, the high level of construction inflation has also presented considerable challenges for grantees.
In view of these issues, it was considered timely to review progress on all projects allocated grants and meetings with all grantees have taken place. It is encouraging that, based on these discussions with grantees, it is estimated that a majority of the 33 projects should be in a position to draw down funding in the next 12 months. Furthermore, projects such as the new athletics hub in Newcastle West, the linear walkway element of the project in Dunboyne and phase one of the Walsh Park development in Waterford are now complete. While this progress is very welcome, these discussions also confirmed that some projects in receipt of LSSIF grants may not proceed in the short to medium term.
Following engagement with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, and in recognition of the challenges faced by some grantees, officials in my Department wrote to all LSSIF grantees inviting them to apply for additional support by 4 August 2023. To be considered for additional funding, grantees were advised that the key elements of the project should remain as set out in the original LSSIF application and that priority will be given to applicants who provide evidence-based documentation to support their application. Further clarification was sought from some grantees but all of this information has now been received. Accordingly, I hope to be in a position to announce further allocations to grantees in due course with a view to ensuring that all existing LSSIF projects can be completed.
With regard to a possible new round of the LSSIF, I am determined to see continued investment in sports facilities in order to ensure we achieve our ambitious targets for sports participation. Accordingly, I will continue to engage with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to the funding required to underpin any new round.
In relation to both the SCEP and the LSSIF my Department continues to support and guide existing 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. Furthermore, my Department is always happy to advise organisations who are considering submitting a future application under either scheme.
