Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021
431. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department, through Sport Ireland or another aegis, can provide funding or support for a feasibility study in relation to a capital project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51199/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a new pool in the area in question is a matter for the local authority in the first instance.
In relation to my Department's role, support for any new swimming pool projects is now being provided under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The LSSIF was launched in 2018 to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects, including swimming pools, with at least €100m being made available over the period to 2027. The scheme is designed for projects where the grant being sought is greater than the maximum grant available under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP). The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 and, thus far, approximately €86.4m has been awarded to 33 different proposals including 8 swimming pool projects..
Funding under the LSSIF is provided under two Streams. Stream 1 is designed for projects at an early stage of planning to enable applicants to advance their proposals to a stage where a Stream 2 application (assistance towards actual construction costs) can be submitted. Projects that already have a feasibility study completed are likely to receive a higher score at assessment stage.
While the priority in the short term is to advance all of the successful projects, as it is now over 18 months since the first allocations were made, and in view of the issues faced by grantees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is timely to review progress on all projects allocated grants. My Department is engaging with all grantees in this regard.
Once that review is complete the scope for awarding new grants to projects which missed out under the first set of allocations and the timing of any new call for proposals will be considered. It is expected that the review will be completed in the coming weeks.
