Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
691. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the scoring criteria applied when allocating funding in the most recent tranche of the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund. [1044/25]
View answer692. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if any projects received funding from the recent tranche of the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund which were not identified by the relevant local authority as the number one priority for their county. [1045/25]
View answer693. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason a centre (details supplied) was not allocated funding in the most recent tranche of the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund. [1046/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 691 to 693, inclusive, together.
In 2024, the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund ('LSSIF') received an unprecedented demand for funding, amounting to €665 million from 96 applications. As a result of this significant demand, a range of valid applications did not receive an LSSIF allocation at the initial allocation stage.
In relation to LSSIF applications which have not received an allocation, it should be noted that a reserve list is being prepared by the Department, on which all remaining valid applications will be assessed and placed in a prioritised order such as this project. As additional LSSIF funding becomes available, projects on the reserve list should then be able to be funded.
The Department's website (gov.ie - Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) 2024) details the projects allocated funding as well as the prioritisation accorded to projects by local authorities and National Governing Bodies of Sport and the scoring matrix applied by the Department.
In relation to the facility referred to, funding towards the design costs of the facility has been provisionally allocated by the Department to assist the project. This allocation has been made given the strategic importance of developing swimming pool infrastructure, in line with the recently published National Swimming Strategy.
