Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021
266. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when a club (details supplied) will have the commitments made regarding the provision of funding of the large-scale sport infrastructure fund realised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11447/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) was launched in 2018 to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects with €100m being made available over the period to 2027.
An application was received from the FAI in respect of a stadium development project for the club referred to by the Deputy. All applications under the LSSIF were assessed in accordance with the published scoring criteria. The scores were awarded based on factors such as the priority given to the project by the relevant NGB and/or local authority; the level of funding being provided by the project sponsor and how the project was likely to increase participation. Following the conclusion of the assessment process, provisional allocations totalling €82.4m for 32 projects were announced last year. The total funding applied for under the scheme significantly exceeded the amount available to allocate and the project referred to by the Deputy did not score sufficiently highly to be awarded a grant under this first set of allocations.
Following the award of provisional grants to successful applicants, the next stage in the process was a further review of the relevant economic appraisals by the Department. In view of the previous grant assistance provided, it was agreed that the economic appraisal of the project referred to by the Deputy should also be subject to this examination. This examination is now complete and a decision on whether to allocate funding to the club in question will be taken in the near future.
