Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2024
226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the sporting organisations throughout the country, that were impeded from meeting their targets arising from previous sport grant allocations continue to be allowed to rearrange their schedules on foot of Departmental approval; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7367/24]
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 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 Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. In January 2020 allocations of €86.4 million in LSSIF funding were awarded to 33 different proposals.
Last December, in response to project delivery delays experienced by grantees arising from the pandemic and construction inflation, Minister Martin and I announced additional funding of €37.6 million for 27 of those LSSIF projects.
My Department understands the challenges facing sports clubs and organisations arising from the pandemic and, more recently, construction cost inflation and will continue to show flexibility in the administration of grant funding under both the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, subject to engagement with the Department by those allocated funding.
