Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 May 2019
192. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he has assisted various community sporting facilities by way of major or minor capital grant schemes in the past three years to date nationally and in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22265/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Grants are available to sports clubs, voluntary and community groups involved in sports, national governing bodies of sport, and local authorities. Third level colleges,Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and schools may only apply for funding jointly with sports clubs or organisations.Details of all grants allocated and payments made under the SCP are published on a county basis on my Department's website at http://www.dttas.ie/sport/english/sports-capital-programme.
The National Sports Policy which was published in July last year provided for a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) with at least €100 million available over the coming years. The LSSIF opened for applications on 19th November 2018 and the closing date for receipt of applications was 17th April 2019. 72 applications were received and my officials are currently undertaking an initial assessment of them. Details of all applications have been published on the Department's website.
In view of the detailed information contained in each application, I am advised that it will take a number of months to have all of them assessed. Accordingly, I expect that it will be towards the end of this year before allocations are announced.
