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Sports Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2021

Tuesday, 22 June 2021

Ceisteanna (67, 77)

Alan Farrell

Ceist:

67. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department will commit to additional funding for the 2021 sports capital and equipment programme in view of record applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33142/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Alan Dillon

Ceist:

77. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the processing of applications under the 2020 round of the sports capital and equipment programme; the percentage of applications that have been processed; if efforts have been made to increase the amount of funding available to the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33250/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí ó Béal (8 píosaí cainte)

My question relates to the sports capital programme, the unprecedented level of applications in recent months and the discussion on that in regard to the potential to increase the general fund to facilitate that.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 77 together.

The sports capital and equipment programme is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment. In excess of 13,000 projects have benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to more than €1 billion. The programme for Government commits to continuing the sports capital and equipment programme and to prioritising the investment in disadvantaged areas.

The 2020 round of the sports capital and equipment programme closed for applications on Monday, 1 March. By the closing date, 3,106 applications were submitted, seeking in excess of €200 million in funding. This is the highest number of applications ever received. The scoring system and assessment manual for the 2020 round has been finalised and is available at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie. All applications are being assessed in accordance with this manual. Given the large number of applications received, this assessment process is likely to take a number of months to complete fully.

Of the 3,106 applications, 1,000 were seeking sports equipment and these applications are being assessed first. Approximately 75% of these have been assessed and the remaining ones should be finalised in the coming weeks. Allocations to these applications will be made once the assessment is complete. The remaining applications for capital works will be assessed immediately afterwards, with these allocations expected before the end of the year.

No decision on allocation amounts will be made until all applications have been assessed. Every effort will be made to fund as many worthwhile projects as possible while providing a sufficient level of grant to ensure the projects are viable. While a minimum of €40 million is available, the level of funding will be kept under review in the context of drawdown demands in the coming years for older sports capital and equipment programme grants and the review of the national development plan. As both Deputies know, that review is ongoing and will inform any future uplift in the sports capital programme.

I appreciate the response. I am very pleased there has been such a significant uptake. It is an extraordinarily important scheme, which I know the Minister of State will recognise. I am certainly hopeful the Minister of State would see fit, along with the Cabinet, to increase the level of funding available, given the unprecedented level of applications. I am very pleased to hear that more than 1,000 of the clubs and associations that have applied for equipment grants, if I am reading between the lines, should hear a little sooner than the balance, which is very good news. A number of improvements have been made to the sports capital scheme in recent years. Certainly, in my time in this House, it has become a much fairer and more transparent process which the public can access regularly through the online portal.

I have one question in regard to the clubs and associations which apply but whose application is unsuccessful initially, perhaps due to a lack of documentation. Is it the Minister of State's intention to permit those clubs to fix their application to become eligible or will they be rolled on into the next programme, whenever that might be? The Minister of State might offer clarity on that.

The development of local sports and recreational facilities has both immediate and long-lasting effects on communities. It is encouraging people of all ages to get physically active while simultaneously increasing the membership of local sporting clubs. It would be useful to know if any communication has taken place with applicants on the sports capital and equipment programme since they submitted their applications. It may be useful to consider sending an update on the information outlined by the Minister of State earlier to keep them informed on the progress with the processing of applications and to provide clarity to them on this matter. Many clubs and sporting organisations are under incredible pressure financially as they maximise their efforts to provide outdoor facilities. Keeping applicants informed will certainly go a long way and I ask the Minister of State to consider this important step.

I thank both Deputies for their questions. On the first question from Deputy Farrell, the factual position is that if an error is identified in an application, that is communicated to the club and can be clarified. However, if it is a matter of submitting new information which will affect the assessment, that is not allowable. Historically, there were a huge number of unsuccessful applications because of minor errors in the application process. That is outlined in the documentation and all clubs are kept abreast of that.

Regarding Deputy Dillon's question, I will have to clarify whether there has been any further direct communication. There would be communication from assessors if something has to be clarified or if an obvious error is identified. I can clarify the broader communication of timelines with my officials and revert to the Deputy about it. Many parliamentary questions are asked by Deputies who are anxious to see this timeline progressed. As I said to Deputy Farrell in the initial response, the equipment applications are being assessed and we hope to conclude that in the coming weeks. The broader sports capital applications will hopefully conclude in the autumn.

I am always pleased with the sports capital programme because it is so significant for community sporting clubs across the country. I refer to a prior question from Deputy Gould answered by the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, about sustaining participation in sport. The sports capital programme forms a critical part of that process. While I appreciate that €200 million for the sports capital programme is unlikely and that €40 million is quite generous, I am interested to see if there will be a move in the near future to try to accommodate as many clubs as possible. The Minister of State has mentioned that criteria will be made available. What sort of recognition might be given for future sports capital and equipment grant programmes for those clubs which have submitted successful applications?

Considering the number of applicants and the popularity of this programme, it is welcome to hear that consideration is being given to increasing the funding allocation. This would be welcome. Sporting clubs and organisations will be key in counteracting the mental health challenges which have resulted from this pandemic. We need to increase the quality of our outdoor sporting infrastructure after a period of social interaction having been kept to a minimum for many people. Increasing the funding to this programme should be considered as an investment and not viewed as a cost. To add to Deputy Farrell's point, that would also allow for an increase in the number of applicants who would benefit from this funding. This year will be the most important ever with regard to how we support our sporting organisations and maximising how we benefit our communities.

A minimum of €40 million is available but there should be scope to make a higher allocation in the context of the lower than expected drawdown of existing grants and the possibility of extra funding following the review of the national development plan. There is scope for it and there will be ongoing engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Regarding the published criteria, key components are: the likelihood of increasing participation in sport, as people mentioned; sharing of facilities; level of socioeconomic disadvantage; technical merits of the project application; and the level of own funding available. We also have a particular focus on greater female participation, people with disabilities, disadvantaged areas, and minority groups, as well as focusing on areas that we have identified that have a sporting deficit so that they can have an opportunity. The criteria are all set out and address many of the key aims under the sport policy.

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