Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 November 2017
217. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he expects to be in a position to accommodate the various community sporting organisations throughout the country with particular reference to the need to cater specifically for active and passive sports, the young and mature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49626/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to assistance for capital projects, the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the primary means of providing Government funding to sport and community organisations at local, regional and national level.
The 2017 round of the SCP closed for applications on the 24th February. By the closing date, a record number of 2,320 applications seeking €155 million in grants were received. When the programme was launched, it was envisaged that €30 million would be available which would have made the allocation of grants particularly challenging. Following the conclusion of the budget discussions and in order to allow as many worthwhile projects as possible to receive some funding, I am pleased that significant extra resources have been secured to allocate under this round.
The assessment of all the 2,320 applications is now nearing completion and I expect to be in a position to announce full details of the allocations in the coming weeks. It should be noted that the likelihood of increasing participation is a key consideration at assessment stage.
With regard to current expenditure, Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. This includes responsibility for the development of strategies for increasing participation in recreational sport for all age groups, and to co-ordinate the implementation of those strategies.
Sport Ireland channels funding through the relevant recognised National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Sports Partnerships. Accordingly, I have also referred the question to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
