Vol. 1044 No. 3
6. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when a five-year plan for tourism will be announced for the Lee Valley area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45708/23]
19. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media that an area (details supplied) will be included in any tourism plan for the Lee Valley area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45709/23]
I am really excited about the tourism potential that exists across the Lee Valley. At one end of it, we have the globally-known Blarney Castle, right the way up through the Gearagh and on to Gougane Barra, for example, and there is zip lining, activities in Coachford, cultural tourism and so many other opportunities. Will the Minister outline the plans to promote the Lee Valley and whether a five-year plan can be established for that?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 19 together.
Before I reply to these questions, I wish to acknowledge the devastation in Cork due to the floods. We have opened the humanitarian assistance support and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney, has also committed to working with local councils to assess the damage and respond quickly. I will liaise closely with the Minister and have asked my officials to engage with Fáilte Ireland to assess the situation from a tourism perspective. However, our thoughts are with all the people and businesses, who have woken up to an absolute nightmare this morning, as they try to recover.
Regarding the Deputy's questions, the tourism sector continues to play a significant role in supporting the State’s humanitarian effort in response to the unjust Russian war against Ukraine. In June 2023, Fáilte Ireland carried out a detailed analysis of the data provided by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, concerning the bed stock under contract to accommodate Ukrainians. The data identified that, in five counties, more than 20% of the registered stock is used for humanitarian purposes, peaking at 33% in County Clare. We are looking at supporting various businesses in the Lee Valley and developing the potential there. We are engaging with Fáilte Ireland on that too.
On the five-year plan, I can liaise with the Deputy and officials will link in with him regarding the tourism plan for the Lee Valley. There is huge potential in this area and he has named some of the opportunities there. We will engage with Fáilte Ireland on that and will look at the development of the plan.
I thank the Minister regarding her acknowledgement of the current situation locally after the torrential downpours and the pressure people are under. Support will definitely be needed to help with the clean-up and to get them back up and running. People are just stunned by the volume of rainfall and are dealing with it.
Focusing on the tourism potential of the Lee Valley, there is a broad offering. Having spoken with Fáilte Ireland officials again more recently, I know it has been making efforts to put in place a plan and that the area would be a spur off or a loop on the Wild Atlantic Way. While I welcome that and that is very positive, there is much more potential within the Lee Valley that would almost warrant a stand-alone plan. Can efforts be made to use the current plan as a stepping stone to take this on to a stand-alone plan?
As the Deputy knows, significant supports have been provided to Cork. The Lee Valley features on Fáilte Ireland's discoverireland.ie website for domestic visitors. This is the one-stop shop that showcases the wealth of attractions to see and Cork features heavily there. Tourism Ireland has Ronan O'Gara as an ambassador, which is very much putting Cork on the map. Regarding the regional tourism development strategies, Cork City and east Cork is included in Fáilte Ireland's new Ireland's Ancient East development strategy; west Cork is included in the new Wild Atlantic Way development strategy; and the Ballyhoura region is included in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands development strategy. These roadmaps for the tourism industry, and all stakeholders involved in tourism in the regions, will help navigate the current challenges and steer a course towards a sustainable recovery and continued success. They will ensure a focus on tourism and development is sustainable. We have the capital investment in Cork, the platforms for growth, the shared water facilities, the urban animation scheme with Cork City Council, the destination towns initiative, the Digital that Delivers programme and Cork Harbour development plan. It is an area that gets support because it is such a tourism heaven for attractions, and we absolutely identify that. The budgetary supports we have put in place for downstream businesses will also help with developing and supporting tourism activity providers in the region.
The opening of the new N22 Macroom and Baile Bhuirne bypass will make east-west tourism flow much more freely.
It means the thousands of tourists who disembark in Cobh and face west will be able to reach their destinations that much faster. Instead of getting to Killarney any faster, why would they not spend more time in the Lee Valley and places such as Macroom? Tourism products such as liners take some years to plan ahead. We really need to be getting a foothold in this tourism product and promoting the Lee Valley to the cohort of people coming off the liners. The bypass also means the Lee Valley is that much more accessible to Killarney-based tourists. There should be some way to promote and encourage this. Macroom is only 20 minutes from four of the biggest fishing rivers in the country - the Bandon, Lee, Ilen and Blackwater. There is real potential but some steps need to be taken ahead of time and we should be starting sooner on it.
Everything the Deputy said points to what we are trying to do in the sustainable tourism strategy, which is to get people into the regions where there will be so much to choose from that they will stay for longer. What is needed is connectivity and we are developing a national tourism strategy. Activities such as walking in the Lee Valley, water skiing and golf can be available so that when people arrive they will stay in the region. We need connectivity. Fáilte Ireland's website and Tourism Ireland initiatives are driving this. We need to look at directing domestic and international tourists into the regions. The Lee Valley is a perfect example of this. We will continue to engage with Fáilte Ireland on developing this strategy for such a wonderful tourism resource.
7. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline how the increases in funding for women in sport, announced in budget 2024, will take shape. [45182/23]
63. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline the women's sport that will be advanced and supported at all levels with the announcement of a doubling in funding for women's sport; the plans that are under way to ensure more women and girls participate in all sports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45548/23]
This question focuses on increased funding for sport for women and how the allocation in this year's budget will be implemented to encourage greater participation of women in sport.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 63 together.
The Minister and I were very pleased to be able to announce an increase of €2 million in funding for the Women in Sport programme for 2024. This is a very important funding scheme for sporting bodies and it will continue to support those bodies in putting programmes in place to increase women’s participation in their sports and to progress their strategic objectives for women in sport across all areas, including active participation, coaching, officiating and leadership.
The increased budget will also facilitate Sport Ireland to continue to lead out on programmes and initiatives that support the implementation of the Sport Ireland policy on women in sport. The additional funding that the Minister and I secured will double Sport Ireland’s budget under the Women in Sport programme next year. The funding will be administered by Sport Ireland, which will set out the terms and conditions of funding. It is anticipated that the 2024 scheme will open for applications in the first quarter of next year.
Sport Ireland’s funding guidelines for the Women in Sport programme continue to encourage organisations to develop women in sport programmes and initiatives focused on the key areas outlined in Sport Ireland's policy on women in sport, namely, coaching and officiating, active participation, leadership and governance and visibility. Investment in the programme to date has enhanced all aspects of female involvement in these target areas.
The Women in Sport funding programme has been in place since 2005 and since then, more than €22 million has been invested through the national governing bodies, NGBs, of sport and local sports partnerships.
There is often focus on the international teams and the national bodies but the real nuts and bolts of it happen on the ground. The Minister of State had the opportunity to visit Naomh Abán's mothers and others team, St. Val's in Kilmurry and Éire Óg's camogie and ladies Gaelic football teams. Deputy Murnane O'Connor is an enthusiastic supporter of women in sport and she would have mentioned many local organisations. We see the day-to-day energy and enthusiasm in local organisations and it is very important that the funding makes its way onto the ground to support them. Is there an outline of what the split will be between national bodies and organisations on the ground to ensure the everyday real energy on the ground is supported?
Research has clearly shown the inequalities in structures and supports for women in sport. Quite simply, more investment will lead to more exposure and more success. As my maths teacher in school used to say, nothing succeeds like success. Seeing women athletes, and broadening the definition of what it is to be sporty so that more girls can feel they can participate and identify with it, is incredibly important. This massively increased funding through doubling the budget is very welcome from the Department and the Minister of State. I congratulate the Minister of State. Like my colleague, I would like more information on when local clubs and local initiatives will be able to see some of the money so they are able to invest it in young girls so that we do not have, as happens now, girls at the age of 13 saying they are not sporty and are not participating in sport. We need to address this and we need to change it.
I will give as an example the Her Moves campaign, which is part the programme. This is designed to support, motivate and encourage more teenage girls to be active. Her Moves is being used by organisations at all levels, national and local, when rolling out physical activity programmes that target teenage girls using certain criteria. So far this year, 35 organisations have engaged with the Her Moves campaign. We had a brilliant launch for it at the Sports Ireland Campus. The website has had 57,000 hits and we will report on the campaign activity and how it is developed.
There are also other initiatives. The extra funding will allow Sport Ireland not only to develop initiatives, but to provide funding to sporting organisations that want to create initiatives to get funding through this. Recently, the GAA advertised a programme on encouraging women to get involved in leadership. The GAA has a course on leadership and people will take it up. It is funded through women in sport. In acknowledgement of the women's team qualifying for the World Cup, €500,000 extra has been provided to the FAI, separate from all of this, specifically for football initiatives for women in sport. There are also number of other initiatives and it is important to reiterate this.
We have brought in a new rule for sports capital funding that unless there is similar access for men and women, there will be zero funding. This will also apply to the large-scale sports infrastructure fund, LSSIF. Applicants for larger regional projects and LSSIF top-ups will have to produce access policies showing this to the public and to the users of facilities. In addition, there has been a long-standing commitment to have 40% of gender balance on NGB boards. I acknowledge some steps have been taken by NGBs. This will also change sport on the ground. If NGBs do not implement this by the end of the year, they will be subject to a 50% funding cut immediately. If an NGB does not have 40% of women on its board when organisations go to draw down funding from the current round of sports capital funding, it will be entitled to only 50% of the funding it has been awarded until the situation is rectified.
There are several groups of people, including those whom we want to encourage into sport and those who are involved in sport whom we want to retain. I am involved at a number of levels with Naomh Abán's ladies Gaelic football team. Throughout ladies football, playing careers are getting shorter and shorter. Girls are dropping out at age 16, 17 or 18. This is similar in other sports and so many other clubs. Is there an initiative that can be taken to ensure people stay with the sport or, if they do not want to stay playing, that they stay in some way or another with the club and stay active? These are people who have a positive disposition towards sport and we should look to encourage them or keep them involved in some way. Will some of this funding be focused on keeping people participating for longer?
My concern is another of the groups mentioned by Deputy Aindrias Moynihan, namely, those who are not involved in sports at all. We see poor levels of participation in sport and activity among young teenage girls. Much research has been done into this topic and how to break down these barriers. Girls talk about limited opportunities to try new things or learn new skills. I hope this investment, the doubling of funding, can provide new opportunities to learn new skills. Will the funding simply be for capital acquisitions for equipment and grounds, or can it be used to fund coaching and leadership staff as well? That would provide the place to learn a new skill and the person to teach it. The extra leadership would help to address the point made by Deputy Moynihan as it would give people something new to do and a new outlet, thereby keeping them involved in their club, sport or community even longer.
I call Deputy Cathal Crowe.
I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for giving me a few moments to speak. I will speak briefly about those who play our Gaelic games. Yesterday, I hosted a group from the Gaelic Players Association, GPA, here in Leinster House. The money GPA members get trickles down to their pockets. The male players get €1,490, on average, while the female players are getting a take-home grant of €945. They explained that 37% of the money going to female members goes into the organisation to cover all sorts of administration, right down to the county physios and whatnot. Female players want parity. That was put at the top of the priority list by the Minister of State and his predecessor, Deputy Chambers. I want to see this issue addressed because we need parity. Female GPA members are players too and are very proud to wear their county jerseys.
I heard yesterday that there is now something called "player poverty". On county WhatsApp groups, players are saying they will not be back for next season because they cannot afford it and they need to get a job or move out of the county. This grant is essential. GAA is not a professional sport. The GAA also needs to play a role. It is making serious money. Everyone at GAA grounds, from those selling ice creams and programmes to the managers, is getting money, except the players. I am not suggesting Gaelic games should be professional, but the players should be bringing home some money in their pockets.
Regarding the points raised by Deputies Aindrias Moynihan and Costello, the Her Moves programme is specifically designed to keep teenage girls in sport. That is only one of the programmes. It is based on research, the Adolescent Girls Get Active report, done only two years ago. It was important research done by Sport Ireland that informs us about what the Deputies spoke about. We have facts in this regard.
The gender gap between men and women in sport was 15.7% in 2005. That was the percentage difference between men and women taking part in sports in 2005. It is now 5%, so the gap has narrowed but it was only 3.4% before the Covid pandemic. There is, therefore, a gap between the numbers of men and women who take part in sport and that is why this funding is important.
To address Deputy Costello's specific point, the funding is for current spending, coaching and initiatives. The capital funding is entirely separate.
On Deputy Cathal Crowe's point, the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association, LGFA, and the Camogie Association would acknowledge what we have done on capital funding. Absolutely no funding is available if there is not parity of esteem between men and women and similar access. That is the end of that. Things like being told not to use pitches because it would destroy the grass for the men, which one ladies player told me about, are over. We will not be funding facilities where that is the case. This message has got out loud and clear.
On the GPA and the lack of parity of esteem, there is not as much I can do about that, except to make the important point that I strongly encourage the organisations concerned in their integration journey. That will answer all these questions. The Minister and I had a meeting this week with the presidents of all three associations, as well as Mary McAleese, who is driving this, and several staff members. This is an important endeavour, which we fully support. In fairness to the organisations, they also want to see an end to what the Deputy referred to. I want to see an end to it. My wife is a former county player as well, and I have seen how things are not always equal in that regard. That must end, but I think it will end with the integration process. We wish that process very well. We want it to happen. Significant progress seems to be being made in this process, and I think this will be the answer to those issues the representatives of the GPA raised with me when I met them, and with the Deputy and other colleagues as well.
I thank the Minister of State.
8. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the action she is taking in relation to the reduction in tourist accommodation resulting from the refugee crisis. [45705/23]
18. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will elaborate on the "targeted measures to support downstream business impacted as a resulted of the war in Ukraine" announced on budget day. [45069/23]
31. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on the impacts of stock displacement within the tourism sector, with 30,000 beds now under contract to the Department Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, of which 25,000 are hotel beds; if she will consider a business support scheme in regional areas with the highest occupancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45524/23]
I wish to ask the Minister about the Ukrainian war. We are quickly approaching its second anniversary. I think it was around 20 March 2022 that it began, so we are coming close to the two-year mark. The response from Ireland has been immense. In the main, we have done a good job as a country but our response has had its struggles. One of the fallouts from our response has been a major withdrawal of accommodation across the country. Our response has been tied into providing accommodation. I would like to know if there is a medium- and long-term response to that, specifically for those businesses locked out of and not benefiting from the lucrative contracts. Is there any support that could be given to them?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 18 and 31 together.
The tourism sector continues to play a significant role in supporting the State’s humanitarian effort in response to the unjust Russian war against Ukraine. In June 2023, Fáilte Ireland carried out a detailed analysis of data provided by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth concerning the bed stock under contract to accommodate Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection and international protection applicants and established that 13% of the tourism accommodation stock nationally that is registered with Fáilte Ireland was under contract to the Department. An additional quantum of tourism-type accommodation that is not registered with Fáilte Ireland is also contracted to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
The data identified that in five counties more than 20% of the registered stock is used for humanitarian purposes, peaking at 33% in County Clare. The analysis shows that in certain counties, such as Offaly, Mayo, Leitrim, Meath and Clare, the scale of accommodation stock displacement is significant and is a factor in downstream economic impacts. Recent research undertaken by Fáilte Ireland looked at the impact of stock displacement on tourist attraction and activity providers operating within those regions most affected. The overall findings are that most attractions, experiences and activity providers experienced a drop in business volume compared to 2019 across all three markets and that nearly 20% of businesses surveyed have been substantially impacted, with a decline of at least 30% in business volumes compared to 2019. The evidence collated suggested that bed stock displacement was one of the main factors that has led to the decline in business volumes.
As the businesses impacted are varied and range from small and micro-sized enterprises to family-run businesses, there is no one-fits-all solution to address the issues they are facing. For this reason, I have secured funding to implement a broad range of supports. As part of the budget settlement that I have secured for tourism in 2024, up to €10 million has been identified for a comprehensive programme of supports targeted at downstream tourism businesses experiencing particular trading challenges linked to the reduction in footfall to activities and attractions in regions most impacted by tourism bed stock displacement. This programme of supports includes investment in sustainable tourism development and promotion, industry digitalisation, promotion of domestic tourism and festivals and recruitment and retention initiatives.
I have also asked Fáilte Ireland to engage with impacted businesses to consider the scope for a specific business support scheme that could help the most affected tourism activities and attractions and to report back to me on options and recommendations in four weeks’ time. A strong evidence base will be critical in this regard, and I have asked the tourism sector, particularly activities and attractions, to engage with Fáilte Ireland to provide direct and verifiable evidence of how tourism accommodation stock displacement has negatively impacted their businesses.
While the precise breakdown of the €10 million in funding I have secured to support downstream tourism businesses will not be finalised until I have received Fáilte Ireland's report, I will be ring-fencing specific funding to the organisation for sustainable tourism development to help tourism businesses improve their energy efficiency. This investment will help businesses to reduce overheads and dependency on fossil fuels while supporting the sector in the delivery of its climate targets by reducing carbon emissions.
Examples of the types of activity that can be supported under this sustainability heading include assistance to activity providers to extend their season, encouraging visitors to travel in April, May, September and October. Such businesses range from surfing providers to walking and cycling operators and an extension to their seasons greatly benefits them and their surrounding communities who provide supporting services. I refer as well to media partnerships with specialist websites, brands and publications in key markets such Germany and the United States, plus media visits by key travel and tourism journalists, and building linkages between Irish tourism industry providers and large tourism travel associations. Additionally, there is building awareness of the move by inland cruisers on the Shannon away from fossil fuels to the use of hydrogenated vegetable oil, which will reduce carbon emissions by 92%, and help to extend season business for the inland cruisers sector. I also intend to target additional funding to support ongoing work under Fáilte Ireland's employer excellence programme, which aims to address the current recruitment and retention issues.
Tourism businesses are in every region of the country and sustain people living and working in areas where often there is no other industry operating.
This is a three-year programme that has, since 2022, supported 390 tourism businesses and Fáilte Ireland will now be extending the scope of the programme to engage and support businesses with fewer than 20 employees, with a particular focus on attractions and activity providers. This funding will get more small businesses into the programme, which will help them to attract and retain workers. With this investment Fáilte Ireland will continue to build on this important work through a range of innovative initiatives to support industry in the recruitment, retention and upskilling of staff across the sector. This will comprise of multifaceted campaigns to target key cohorts of talent and to reposition the industry as an attractive workplace, the roll-out and development of the new learning management system, including an extensive programme of skills and professional development, and a programme of activity to target second-level students and their key influencers.
Most funding directed towards Fáilte Ireland’s digitalisation initiative will continue to assist businesses to tackle low levels of digitalisation, which result in poor online visibility and, by extension, low levels of e-commerce activity. An effective way to assist destinations to increase dwell time is by enabling visitors to book more product in advance of arriving in destinations. Fáilte Ireland will commence a further intake of tourism businesses into its digitalisation programme over the next year. In addition, it will prepare an industry digitalisation strategy to support businesses to harness the power of new and emerging technologies such as AI and virtual and augmented reality. On the ground this will help Irish tourism businesses to maximise sales from online channels and increase reach and bookings through connected distribution. Officials from my Department, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland continue to engage with the sector to support tourism development at home and among overseas visitors, while supporting the continued recovery of the sector.
I thank the Minister for her comprehensive reply. One third of tourism accommodation is pretty much tied in providing refuge at this time for people who are fleeing the war in Ukraine and other humanitarian crises. It is felt in County Clare more than anywhere. There is a larger cohort of accommodation in Clare committed to these schemes than anywhere else in the country. There are, however, many businesses locked out of this. Businesses such as surf schools, open farms and restaurants or offering pony trekking as well as the four- and five-star hotels that are not configured to take in Ukrainian refugees or international protection refugees have seen their business model totally collapse. People just cannot book in County Clare for weekend weddings or long-term trips. I know of one fleadh cheoil group that was coming to Clare from the United States. They were going to stay for a while but could not get accommodation and had to cancel their entire trip. We are seeing this repeatedly.
I am particularly keen to hear more on the business support scheme. I want to home in on the types of businesses that are locked out of what we have just spoken about. Hotels in County Clare have received, I believe, in the region of €23 million so far for engaging in the scheme but so many businesses have seen their income go the opposite way. I would love to hear what the Minister can do for those businesses to pick them up a little and ensure they survive this crisis.
As I said, €10 million has been identified for the comprehensive programme of supports. The key element is that I have written to Fáilte Ireland to see if there is scope for a specific business support scheme similar to the supports we provided during Covid. We cannot devise a scheme based on anecdotal evidence. If the Deputy is aware of businesses such as activity providers or tourism experiences, he should ask them to engage directly with Fáilte Ireland. Last week, I asked Fáilte Ireland to get back to me within four weeks so that response will be provided in three weeks. It is key that businesses engage with Fáilte Ireland in order that we can devise a scheme, if one is identified as needed, and have the evidence to do so.
I thank the Minister. When I submitted this parliamentary question I was thinking of Lisdoonvarna in County Clare, made famous of course by the Christy Moore song. Almost every September, the town hosts an incredible festival to which people from all over Ireland flock, certainly the single people of Ireland. Ordinarily there are 300 or 400 people in the town but that figure has increased fourfold. No other place in Ireland has had a fourfold increase in population. The people of Lisdoonvarna have been incredibly welcoming and we can be very proud of receiving refugees. On the accommodation front, nearly every hotel in the town has availed of the scheme but one or two four- and five-star hotels are not configured for it. Outside the town, there is pony trekking and there are surf schools over in Lahinch. These are not businesses that can reap the benefits - if I can put it that way - that hoteliers can reap. They are seeing their businesses collapse. I hope the Minister can push on with a business support scheme. I believe a lot more than €10 million is needed. The scheme needs to be targeted at places like Lisdoonvarna and other towns along the west coast that have had thousands of people funnelled through them without supports. As we head into the winter period, we need to fund these businesses so they start 2024 in good shape.
I have concerns about that impact on those businesses. My colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Simon Coveney, has put in place a scheme that would benefit up to 130,000 small and medium-sized business at a cost of €250 million. Hopefully, through engagement with the sector, including activity and tourism experience businesses, the Fáilte Ireland scheme will give the support that is needed and which the Minister, Deputy Coveney's scheme, has not been able to reach. Between the two Departments, we will be able to reach out to them. I have allocated that €10 million specifically in recognition of the knock-on effect on downstream tourism businesses.
I emphasise again that engagement is key. If the Deputy is aware of any specific tourism businesses in County Clare, he should ask them to engage with Fáilte Ireland in the coming weeks.
11. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for an update on the large-scale sports infrastructure fund; the number of projects that were allotted funding under the previous round and an update on progress from these projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45100/23]
26. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the large-scale sports infrastructure fund will open for applications. [45220/23]
We now move on to questions Nos. 11 and 26, and Deputy Brendan Smith has been nominated.
The large-scale sports infrastructure fund is extremely important for the further development of all sports, for women and men. I was glad to hear the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, reiterate his commitment to ensuring that the projects that have already received approval will proceed as soon as possible. Apart from the important sports events in our own country, we need to ensure we have a range of sporting facilities to attract even more international games and events. Sports facilities and stadiums should be multipurpose and facilitate as many sports as possible.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 26 together.
I thank Deputy Smith for asking these questions and Deputies Pádraig O'Sullivan and McAuliffe for submitting them. The large-scale sports infrastructure fund, which I have outlined already, was a significant fund that awarded approximately €86.4 million to 33 different projects. Details, including the project cap, are on the Department's website.
I also outlined the difficulties with some of those projects due to the pandemic and, subsequently, construction inflation. We have gone through all of the projects to try to encourage them along. Only a very small number have opened. I was at the official opening of the athletics hub in Newcastle West, which is a fabulous facility. I particularly like that there is public access to that project and it is not only for the athletes who will need and use it. I officially opened the linear walkway in Dunboyne. Phase one of Walsh Park in Waterford is now complete.
Some projects are, however, very slow and that is an issue. We want to make sure we can get the rest of these projects, insofar as we can, off the ground. We recently engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, and officials wrote to the all of the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF, grantees inviting them to apply for additional funding support by 4 August 2023. Work has been ongoing in the Department since then. In due course, I hope to be in a position to announce further allocations to grantees with a view to ensuring that all the projects that have been awarded grants will go ahead.
I hope there will be a new round of LSSIF and I will continue to engage with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, on that.
I thank the Minister of State for his response. I also welcome the Minister's engagement with me to date on the proposed Cavan sports complex. I assure the Minister of State, as I did previously, that the Cavan regional sports complex has advanced significantly since the original decision in 2020 to award funding. I compliment the Cavan County Board of the GAA, Cavan County Council and the Royal School Cavan, which are the promoters of this project, and welcome the strong support for the project shown by other local and national sporting bodies.
The Cavan sports complex will cater for as many sports as possible, with a very strong emphasis on minority sports and women in sports. The Minister of State and the Minister will be familiar with Breffni Park in Cavan. This proposed new sports complex will adjoin Breffni Park and will complement the excellent facilities we have there already. It will have a range of sporting facilities.
With regard to the application for funding for the project, I am anxious that the request to the Department for further funding, following the Department's announcement of possible additional funding, will be processed and approved as soon as possible.
I thank the Deputy. I am hopeful the Cavan project will be able to start and be completed. There have been active discussions between the Department and the promoters of the Cavan regional sports campus that Deputy Brendan Smith has been in touch with me a lot about. He is very committed to that project. We are very committed to that project as well. We did offer further funding during the summer to everybody. Almost all of the large scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF, recipients applied for further funding and I do hope to be in a position in due course to announce further funding. The idea of that funding would be to get these projects off the ground and I sincerely hope that it will. They had difficulties but they are really worthwhile projects that we want to see built. I know Deputy Brendan Smith and his colleagues in Cavan want to see this project completed as well.
I thank the Minister of State. Again I want to put on the record that I have been very glad to work closely along with Cavan County Council, with Brendan Jennings and John Donohoe, with the Cavan County Board, Kieran Callaghan and Martin Cahill, along with the Royal School in Cavan, Bishop Ferran Glenfield, Padraic Corley and Canon Lidwill. They are really working together to ensure that this is a real community project. We would have a huge range of new facilities catering for all sports. This includes quite a large number of playing pitches, hockey pitches, athletics tracks, all of that encompassing a strong sports complex. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending Breffni Park for the Ulster rugby game against Glasgow Warriors. The Cavan County Board of the GAA is ensuring its facilities are available to other sports. That is the type of policy we need going forward, so that our sporting facilities of all sizes, the smaller stadia and the larger ones, cater for different sports and not just those of their parent discipline.
Very briefly, for future large-scale sports infrastructure funds, I want to flag that the potential benefits that will be presented by the hosting of Euro 2028 for soccer will be immense. I ask the Minister of State to give careful consideration to the sort of investment that will be required in football clubs, particularly the stadia up and down the country that are in desperate need of investment. It is a wonderful opportunity, not for this round but for future capital investment.
I am fairly sure the Minister of State welcomes the good news for Drogheda United on funding from a professionalisation point of view. If we are talking about development of a new stadium, that is what is needed in the League of Ireland as regards sustainability. That is the big byword. Obviously we have a particular high that is ongoing in respect of soccer and League of Ireland. A club I support, Dundalk F.C., is involved with the local authorities and others to develop a viable project to upgrade Oriel Park. With all the great history that Dundalk F.C. has, it is a stadium that is in real need of work. We would be looking at the likes of the large-scale sports infrastructure fund as a possible solution to part of this problem into the future.
I concur with other Members on the real need for increased sporting facilities within each of our constituencies. I thank the Minister of State for visiting Castlebar recently to launch a report on the importance of sport within the county town. We have seen the success of the Lough Lannagh project with a new swimming pool, adjacent tennis clubs, walkways and so on. Collaboration with the Minister of State's Department and local authorities can be a game-changer in ensuring we have more participation, better sporting facilities and better investment and use of Government funding. We know how important it is to get young people involved and get them active for their well-being and for their physical and mental health. The Minister of State talked previously about the increased applications that are currently being reviewed for the sports capital programme. Going into 2024 I hope that we have one of the largest national pots in the sports capital programme to deliver all across Ireland.
I join with other Deputies in calling for the details for the large-scale sports capital grants to be made available and to allow projects to make applications. I have spoken to the Minister of State many times about Bohemians Football Club in Dalymount stadium, a stadium with a huge history but also great potential. The partnership between the FAI, Dublin City Council and Bohs has the opportunity to apply for such a scheme. It will have significant benefit in the community. It is not just about the club itself but also the work they do on and off the pitch and the partnership with Dublin City Council and the Phibsborough area, which I do not represent but I know many of the groups there, and also the wider community on the northside. These large-scale projects fall outside the normal run of sports capital grants but they are incredibly important and have a huge impact on the cultural and sporting life of an area. I do not have to explain that to the Minister of State or to the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, as I know they are massive supporters.
Of course I will continue to work with Deputy Brendan Smith on the project in Cavan. I hope to be announcing extra funding for successful applicants for LSSIF in due course. I agree with Deputy Alan Farrell on the Euros. Deputy Ó Murchú talked about Drogheda United. I am very grateful that the board briefed me on developments there. I am very conscious that it is a matter for the members of the club to make decisions there. I will not comment one way or the other but will let them make the decision. Investment from the outside is part of it too. It is not just about Government investment.
Dalymount Park is a place I know well. My late father played there against Bohemians and probably others at the time. That is a project I have visited with Senator Mary Fitzpatrick. It has received funding to go to planning. The LSSIF funding has allowed that to go to planning. They are waiting to submit an application for LSSIF funding. Deputy Dillon mentioned Lough Lannagh which I visited recently in Castlebar. I wish I could have one of them in every town in Ireland of a similar size. It is an incredible facility and it is very welcome that it was supported by the Government.
9. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte Uimh. 98 den 13 Iúil 2023, cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis an obair athbhreithniúcháin ar na chéad 10 bplean teanga a ceadaíodh faoi Acht na Gaeltachta, 2012; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [45677/23]
Maidir leis an bpróiseas pleanála teanga, an féidir leis an Aire Stáit soiléiriú a thabhairt dom ar an athbhreithniú atá ar siúl?
Ar an 28 Meitheamh 2023, d'fhógair mé go raibh conradh bronnta ar an gcomhlacht Barr Feabhais Teoranta chun athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar an gcéad deich bplean teanga a ceadaíodh faoi réir Acht na Gaeltachta 2012. Cinnteoidh an tionscnamh seo, a bhfuil buiséad suas le €92,500 á chur ar fáil ina leith, go ndéanfar athbhreithniú neamhspleách ar fheidhmiú na bpleananna teanga seo. Cuirfear aiseolas maidir le feidhmiú na bpleananna ar fáil agus, bunaithe ar an méid a aithnítear san athbhreithniú, beifear in ann céimeanna a ghlacadh chun cur i bhfeidhm an phróiseas pleanála teanga a fheabhsú.
Is iad seo a leanas na deich limistéir phleanála teanga atá i gceist: Cloich Chionnaola, Gort an Choirce, an Fál Carrach agus Machaire Rabhartaigh i nDún na nGall; na Déise; Ciarraí theas; Gaoth Dobhair, Rann na Feirste, Anagaire agus Loch an Iúir; Ciarraí thiar; Conamara láir; an Cheathrú Rua; Maigh Eo thuaidh; Ráth Chairn agus Baile Ghib; agus Árainn Mhór.
Tá curtha in iúl ag Barr Feabhais go bhfuil teagmháil ghníomhach déanta ag an gcomhlacht le páirtithe leasmhara éagsúla i leith an athbhreithnithe ó cuireadh tús leis. Tá comhairliúchán déanta ag Barr Feabhais Teoranta le ceanneagraíochtaí agus le coistí stiúrtha pleanála teanga i seacht gcinn de na limistéir theanga go dtí seo. Tá sraith chruinnithe reáchtáilte ag an gcomhlacht le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta agus tionóladh cruinniú idir mo Roinn, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Foras na Gaeilge agus Barr Feabhais le déanaí freisin.
Is léir go bhfuil dul chun cinn á dhéanamh ag Barr Feabhais agus é ag obair i dtreo athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar na pleananna teanga ábhartha. Tá deimhnithe ag Barr Feabhais le hoifigigh mo Roinne go leanfaidh sé ar aghaidh go dícheallach lena chuid oibre chun a chinntiú go gcuirfeadh tuarascáil chuimsitheach ar fáil de réir na dtéarmaí tagartha agus na spriocdhátaí a aontaíodh. Tá tréimhse naoi mí ó thús an chonartha luaite chun leagan críochnúil an athbhreithnithe a chur faoi bhráid mo Roinne, rud a chiallaíonn go mbeadh toradh na hoibre ar fáil faoi dheireadh Márta 2024.
Ar a laghad, tá dáta againn anois - Márta na bliana seo chugainn. An mbeidh an tuarascáil nó an t-athbhreithniú sin á fhoilsiú ag an Roinn? Tá an t-ábhar seo thar a bheith tábhachtach. Bhí sé conspóideach ón tús maidir leis an gcóras pleanála teanga. Dar len a lán daoine, saineolaithe san áireamh, bhí an t-uafás ualach á chur ar an bpobal. Beidh sé suimiúil a fheiceáil cén dul chun cinn atá déanta. Maidir leis na deich bplean atá faoi chaibidil ag an gconradh, cén chaoi ar phioc an Roinn na deich ndúiche sin? Mar shampla, níl Cois Fharraige i nGaillimh san áireamh. De réir mo thuisceana, tá an plean sin ag feidhmiú le fada an lá agus roimh na cinn atá pioctha ó thaobh an chomhlachta de.
Tiocfaidh mé ar ais arís maidir leis an bplean a luaigh an Teachta i nGaillimh. Sular éirigh mé tinn i rith an tsamhraidh, bhí sé i gceist agam cuairt a thabhairt ar na ceantair Ghaeltachta timpeall na tíre. Go dtí seo, bhí mé i nDún na nGall, i gConamara, i Ráth Chairn i gContae na Mí, i gceantar na Déise, i gCorcaigh, i gCiarraí theas agus i gCiarraí thiar. Is é an rud a bhí i gceist agam agus mé sna ceantair Ghaeltachta sin ná cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sé na pleananna teanga a fheiceáil. B'fhéidir go mbeidh seans eile againn, sa choiste nó i gcruinniú i m'oifig, tuairimí an Teachta ar na pleananna teanga a bhaineann le Conamara agus le Gaillimh a phlé.
