Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 April 2024
45. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she is aware of the campaign by an organisation (details supplied) and its push for sporting facilities for the young people of the south inner city on the site on Marrowbone Lane. [17058/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the campaign referred to in the question.
My Department operates two capital funding programmes to support the development of sport facilities, namely the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (the “SCEP”) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (the “LSSIF”).
The SCEP is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country.
Since 1998, over 13,000 projects have benefited from sports capital funding, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. SCEP has transformed the sporting landscape, with improved sports facilities, in every town and village in the country including in Dublin. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to targeting the investment in disadvantaged areas.
As well as being open to individual sports clubs, applications are also accepted from local authorities. Dublin City Council has received significant grant funding for sports facilities projects including sports pitches used by football clubs. Since 2000, a total of €35m has been allocated to Dublin City Council under SCEP.
The 2023 round of the SCEP closed for applications on 8 September, 2023. A record number of 3,210 applications was received under the 2023 round, including ten applications from Dublin City Council.
Any application for funding will be considered on its merits based on the agreed scoring system. The schemes favour projects that will increase participation, promote sharing of facilities amongst a number of sports and/or clubs, and priority is always given to applications from disadvantaged areas.
The Departments sports capital programmes do not support land or property acquisition. In relation to land or property acquisition, I would consider that question more appropriately addressed to the relevant local authority, including in relation to overall local planning and development policies as agreed by the local elected representatives.
