Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 November 2023
225. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an up-to-date statement on LSSIF round 1; to detail how much has been allocated; how much has been drawn down; and the list of projects it was allocated to. [51701/23]
View answerThe National Sports Policy, which was published in 2018, provided for the establishment of a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019 with applications confined to local authorities and national governing bodies of sport. All applications were assessed in accordance with the published evaluation procedures and guidelines and the first allocations were announced in January 2020. Thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals. Full details of all allocations are available at:- gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/
Since June 2023, the Linear Walkway Project in Meath, Phase 1 of Walsh Park in Waterford, and the Regional Athletics Hub in Limerick have opened to the public. The total amount paid out by the Department to date under LSSIF is €4,749,730. The amounts drawn down and the respective projects are as follows:-
· Dalymount Park Redevelopment (design). €180,410
· Linear Walkways & Playing Pitches, Dunboyne. €1,454,657
· Waterford GAA, Walsh Park. €1,069,700
· Limerick Regional Athletics Hub. €1,193,462
· Kildare GAA, St Conleth's. €851,501
Following engagement with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and in recognition of challenges, such as construction inflation, officials in my Department wrote to all LSSIF grantees inviting them to apply for additional support by 4 August. To be considered for additional funding, grantees were advised that the key elements of the project should remain as set out in the original application and that priority would be given to those who provide evidence-based documentation to support their application. I hope to be in a position to announce further allocations to grantees in the coming period to ensure that all existing LSSIF projects are advanced.
