Written Answers Nos. 324-340
324. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education for an update on a planning application by a school (details supplied) with Fingal County Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18034/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build Programme and will deliver a new 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including four classrooms, for children with special educational needs.
My Department's Project Manager is currently finalising the planning application, including any necessary consents, for the project. Once this has been finalised, the planning application will be submitted shortly thereafter.
It is not possible to provide a time-frame for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured.
My Department will continue to keep the school and its patron body updated as the project progresses.
325. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the status of the master plan for the new build for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18035/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware responsibility for delivering a major project for the school in question has been devolved to Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education & Training Board (DDLETB). This project progressed to Stage 2b (detailed design and planning) of the architectural process. However, a number of significant issues arose and at that point it was agreed between DDLETB and my Department to explore an alternative proposal for the progression of the project as set out by DDLETB.
This alternative involves not only the demolition and replacement of the existing building but also the provision of another school on the site creating a shared education campus. It was agreed following meetings between my Department and DDLETB that a project Masterplan should be redesigned on that basis.
My Department reviewed a Feasibility Study for a shared education campus which formed the basis of discussions with DDLETB towards the end of 2023. It was agreed that the DDLETB would review the Masterplan further, engage with local stakeholders to get their feedback and revert back to my Department.
My Department has and will continue to work closely with DDETB in order to identify the most appropriate solution for the wider education community in the area. I can assure you that my Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for the pupils in St Finian's Community College and will ensure that this project as for all capital projects of this nature is subject to the due diligence required under the public Infrastructure Guidelines.
In the interim, my Department has approved the provision of a Home Economics Room, an Art Room, and a Toilet Block through the Department’s Framework of Modular Accommodation Providers.
326. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education if her Department is working on plans to enlarge a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18036/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently examining options to cater for the future accommodation needs of the school referred to by the Deputy. This examination is ongoing and includes discussions with the patron of the school. When this process is complete my Department will look to progress any additional accommodation required for the school in conjunction with the school's patron.
327. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education for an update on the status of the new building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18037/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2(b) - (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents.
This project is being delivered as part of the Departments ADAPT Programme.
All Statutory Approvals have been secured, and the Stage 2(b) Submission was received in the Department late Q4 2023, for review.
The Department's Professional and Technical Team will review it as quickly as possible having regard also to the many other projects they have to manage for progression through the Department's pipeline.
Department officials will keep the school authorities updated on progress and next steps.
328. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the work her Department has undertaken to assist the primary schools in Portmarnock, County Dublin, with oversubscriptions for 2024-25; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18038/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for my Department.
In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.
As the Deputy may be aware, while there can be enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note sometimes this may not be as a result of lack of accommodation, but may be driven by the following factors:
• Duplication of applications
• School of choice
• Single sex schools
• External draw
Notwithstanding the above, in some areas demographic pressures and other factors are driving a requirement for additional school places.
In response to such previously identified demographic pressures, my Department is providing additional primary capacity in the Portmarnock school planning area, including a new school building to provide 16 classrooms and 6.5 SET rooms for Malahide/Portmarnock ETNS which is currently at Stage 2b, an extension project for St Nicholas of Myra NS which is at Stage 1 and an extension project for St. Helens SNS which is at Project Brief stage.
The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on the Department's website, at www.gov.ie, and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to keep the school place requirements in the Portmarnock school planning area, as with other areas across the country, under review.
329. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the number of autism class school places that will be available in Dublin Fingal East for the school year 2024-25; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18039/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
For 2024, €2.7 billion is being spent on special education, an increase of €113 million, and this is dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs. This will allow for, amongst other things, the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and 300 additional special school places.
In 2024, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting these children.
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.
Over the last number of years, my department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.
These initiatives are bearing fruit with almost 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the last four years.
My department engages intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This forward planning work is well underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
As a result of this forward planning, two new special schools have been established for this current school year in Cork and Dublin, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
In addition, four new special schools will be established for the 2024/25 school year in counties Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick. This will bring to 11 the number of new special schools established in recent years.
Along with the two new special schools opening this school year, 390 new special classes – 254 at primary and 136 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE.
Of these 71 are in Dublin, 48 at primary level and 23 at post-primary level. This brings to 534 the number of special classes in County Dublin, 408 at primary level and 126 at post-primary level.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at: www.ncse.ie/special-classes
Planning for special classes and special school places is currently underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. The locations of new classes for 2024/25 will be confirmed by the NCSE shortly.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise the parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list
My department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
330. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 134 of 14 February 2024, the progress made with respect to the application for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18050/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy, further to Parliamentary Question No. 134 of 14 February 2024, that the school in question submitted an application for capital funding, under my Department's Additional Schools' Accommodation Scheme (ASA) for modular accommodation for a special class.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where there is an identified need.
The Department of Education engages closely with the National Council for Special Education in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
Any school, who opens a special class and is willing to open a further class is to be commended. For the academic year 24/25, it may not be possible or appropriate to open new special classes in every school who expresses an interest or who has expressed a prior interest in opening a new class. In addition, some classes may not be needed for the coming school year but can remain an option if need arises in later years.
In general, demographics are falling at primary level and this trend is due to continue. Therefore the Department of Education in conjunction with the National Council for Special Education considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing spare accommodation capacity in National Schools within a general area in the first instance. This consideration is prior to the establishment of any additional special class that may require additional accommodation e.g. modular accommodation.
This approach can enable a special class to be established more quickly for the coming academic year as it is not bound by the provision of additional accommodation. This then means that the educational needs of children who require a specialist placement can be met at more easily. It may also allow for the earlier re-configuration of existing accommodation to occur in a more streamlined and efficient manner.
This overall approach is consistent with the Department’s commitment to supporting the educational needs of children who require specialist placements while at the same time meeting the requirements of the Government’s Infrastructure Guidelines.
Schools’ support for the establishment of special classes is most welcome. Where additional accommodation is indicated as being required, an analysis of both student demand and available accommodation in an area is required. In this regard, the Department is working very closely with the NCSE to ensure that this required analysis is thoroughly explored with a view to providing the most immediate and cost effective accommodation solutions for the establishment of new special classes for the 2024/25 school year.
In some instances this analysis is complete and the appropriate accommodation solutions are being advanced. In the remaining cases, the outcome of the analysis is nearing completion and schools will be advised accordingly. Your local SENO will continue to engage with you regarding the position and timing of the establishment of your previously sanctioned new class.
Whilst the Department is committed to the provision of special class provision for all students as close to their home environment as possible, existing vacancies, available school accommodation and the swift provision of a new special class in a school with the capacity to do so, will necessitate classes opening not within a preferred national school. The NCSE, through its SENO service, is however committed to sourcing a local class placement for each student within the closest possible distance to that student’s address.
To date, it has not been confirmed by the NCSE regional team that a class is required at the school in question for 2024/25 and in that context the application for additional accommodation is under consideration.
331. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education the reason for the continued delay in providing a promised SEN provision for a school (details supplied), despite the school being approved under her Department's additional school accommodation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18085/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the Department’s school accommodation pipeline of projects to provide a 3 Classroom SEN Base, 2 SET Rooms and 3 General Classrooms under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. This project is devolved for delivery to Donegal ETB.
My Department has approved the project to go to the tender. The tender report was received by my Department in Quarter 4 2023 and is now under review by my Department in line with the requirements of the public Infrastructure Guidelines. Once this review has taken place, the ETB will be advised accordingly.
It is planned that close to 90 school building projects currently at tender stage will be authorised to proceed to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. These projects will provide new and modernised facilities to help schools cater for growing populations in their areas and include 138 classrooms for children with special education needs, which is a key priority for Government.
In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.
332. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if her Department will liaise with the relevant authorities to introduce a school pupil's free travel scheme bus pass, similar to the free travel scheme for adults, recognising that children in rural areas can avail of free travel, but not those in urban areas, and recognising that, if delivered upon, this would be directly meeting one of the objectives in the school transports review. [18091/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.
In the current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.
School Transport is not provided for free of charge for children living in rural areas. However, the Government announced a wide range of once-off measures to assist with increased cost of living pressures which includes a significant reduction in charges for school transport for the 2023/2024 school year. For the 2023/2024 school year, reduced charges of €50 per student at primary level and €75 per student at post-primary level apply, with a cap per family of €125. This means that ticket holders will save up to €50 at primary and €275 at post-primary, with an overall reduction in the family maximum contribution of €525 compared to the fees for 2021/2022 school year. Children with a full medical card and eligible children availing of transport on the scheme for children with special educational needs are exempt from the annual ticket charge.
The Department has recently completed a review of the School Transport Scheme. The review was conducted with a view to examining the current scheme and how it currently operates, its broader effectiveness and sustainability and that it adequately supports the provision of services to students and their families. One of the recommendations of the review is that there should continue to be a fee charged for the annual ticket on primary and post-primary school transport services.
333. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the share of all primary schools in the country that have access to drinking water from the mains, local water scheme or their own well; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18276/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll primary schools in the country should have access to drinking water either via the public mains, a local water scheme or from their own well.
Where a school has a particular water connection concern within the school property or has a building issue that limits their access to drinking water, they can utilise their Minor Works Grant or in emergency circumstances apply to the Emergency Works Scheme. The Planning and Building Unit provide specific design guidance in relation to water supply and distribution to schools including ‘TGD-030.1 - Guidelines on Mains Water Distribution Systems in Primary Schools’.
Between 2018 and 2023 in the region of €310 million in Minor Works Grants and Enhanced Minor Works Grants has been allocated to primary and post-primary schools. The Minor Works Grant for the current school year 2023/2024, was paid in April 2023, to all primary schools including special schools.
Schools have the autonomy to use this funding for maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds. Given that each school setting is different, individual schools are best placed to decide how best to use this funding to address their particular needs.
Arrangements are currently being made for the payment of €29 million in Minor Works grants to primary schools and special schools for the forthcoming 2024/25 school year.
334. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding and grants available to communities that wish to establish community arts centres; and if she would consider the establishment of an arts centre in Bandon, County Cork. [17353/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMuch of the nationwide infrastructure of venues and arts centres used by the professional arts were initiated and funded by local authorities. The network of venues and arts centres established receive ongoing funding for programming from the Arts Council.
My Department focuses on providing capital grant funding for arts and cultural facilities. The primary focus of these schemes is towards securing and enhancing existing arts and culture facilities rather than the development of major new centres.
Arts Centres in receipt of capital funding from my Department in Cork County includes funding of €600,000 awarded to Cork County Council, towards rebuilding the of Briery Gap Theatre & Library, Macroom Co Cork after it was destroyed by fire. In 2014, the Department awarded a grant of €1.5m towards the West Cork Arts Centre in Skibbereen.
Proposals for the development local arts centres are a matter in the first instance for the local authority. In this case, Cork County Council. County and city development plans are drawn up by local authorities in accordance with their functions under the Planning and Development Acts.
I understand that the Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028 was published in 2022 and that the main policy document and sets out the policy objectives for development in the county including the arts. This document can be accessed at the following link:
www.corkcoco.ie/en/resident/planning-and-development/cork-county-development-plan-2022-2028/volume-one
335. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an míneoidh sí cén uair a bheidh na toghcháin do bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta ann; cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis an mBille ábhartha; agus an bhfuil sé i gceist na toghcháin a reáchtáil ar an lá céanna leis na toghcháin áitiúla agus Eorpacha. [17355/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAg a chruinniú den Mháirt 5ú Márta 2024, ghlac an Rialtas cinneadh go ndréachtófaí, mar thosaíocht, an Bille um Údarás na Gaeltachta (Leasú) agus Forálacha Ilghnéitheacha 2024. Tá i gceist ag mo Roinn anois leanúint ar aghaidh le dréachtú an Bhille mar thosaíocht i gcomhair le hOifig na nDréachtóirí Parlaiminte don Rialtas.
Foilsíodh Ceannteidil leasaithe an Bhille ar shuíomh na Roinne ar an 16 Aibreán 2024.
Is é príomhaidhm an Bhille an próiseas ainmniúcháin agus roghnúcháin reatha faoina rialaítear ceapacháin ar bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta a athrú go próiseas nua toghcháin agus roghnúcháin. Neartaíodh agus leathnaíodh go mór na forálacha leasaithe sa Scéim Ghinearálta i gcomparáid leo siúd a cuireadh i láthair sa Scéim Ghinearálta Bhille Údarás na Gaeltachta (Leasú) 2022.
Tá forálacha breise ar fáil sa reachtaíocht bheartaithe a dhéanann cur síos ar nósanna imeachta do chomhaltaí boird a bheidh ag baint leasa as saoire reachtúil, chun folúntais ócáideacha a líonadh agus chun neamhláithreachtaí ó chruinnithe boird a láimhseáil. Chomh maith leis sin, beidh cead ag baill d’údaráis áitiúla a bheith ceaptha mar chomhaltaí Bhord an Údaráis. Ní bheidh comhaltaí Tithe an Oireachtais nó iad siúd a thoghfar mar ionadaithe i bParlaimint na hEorpa incháilithe chun bheith ina gcomhaltaí den bhord.
Foráiltear freisin sa Scéim Ghinearálta nuashonraithe do 3 choiste réigiúnacha in ionad an 2 choiste a moladh sa bhun-Scéim Ghinearálta. Beidh na coistí seo comhdhéanta de chomhaltaí boird agus ionadaithe áitiúla ó na réimsí seo a leanas:
• I Réigiún an Tuaiscirt, beidh triúr comhalta tofa an Údaráis ann don réigiún seo chomh maith le comhalta amháin ó gach ceann de Chomhairlí Contae Dhún na nGall agus Mhaigh Eo;
• I Réigiún an Iarthair agus an Oirthir, beidh ceathrar comhalta tofa an Údaráis ann don réigiún seo chomh maith le comhalta amháin ó gach ceann de Chomhairlí Contae na Gaillimhe agus na Mí; agus,
• I Réigiún an Deiscirt, beidh triúr comhalta tofa an Údaráis ann don réigiún seo chomh maith le comhalta amháin ó gach ceann de Chomhairlí Contae Chiarraí, Chorcaí agus Phort Láirge.
Tá sonraí nua ó thaobh fheidhmeanna na gCoistí Réigiúnacha seo sa Scéim Ghinearálta nua chomh maith.
Tá dáta na dtoghchán á choinneáil faoi athbhreithniú de réir mar a théann an obair dhréachtaithe ar aghaidh. Is léir anois, áfach, nach mbeifear réidh le n-iad a reáchtáil ar an lá céanna leis na toghcháin áitiúla.
336. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her Department's capital underspend, if any, in 2023; and her Department's projected spend in 2024. [17421/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the 2023 and 2024 capital allocations for my Department can be found in the published Revised Estimates Volume for 2024, available at www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates/ (pages 148-156).
Details pertaining to final capital outturn for 2023 are contained in my Department’s 2023 Annual Appropriation Account, which is currently being audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General and will fall to be published by that Office in due course. €21.48m of capital funding was carried forward from 2023 by way of deferred surrender for spending on priority capital projects and programmes in 2024.
Details of capital expenditure by my Department, and all Government Departments, are published by the Department of Finance on a monthly basis at www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/fd5ef4-the-fiscal-monitor/
337. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if Fáilte Ireland has received an application (details supplied); if so, the date the application was received from the local authority; when a decision is expected to be made on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17577/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies. The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to that agency for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
338. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the expected date of the sports capital funding announcements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17616/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (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. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998 bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.
The latest round of the SCEP closed for applications on Friday 8 September 2023. Examination of the submitted applications demonstrates that the Programme has again generated a very large number of applications. The total number of 3,210 applications exceeds the record number submitted under the last round in 2020 and the total funding applied for is €359 million, representing an 80% increase over the amount applied for in the 2020 SCEP.
The Scoring System and Assessment Manual for the 2023 round has been published along with a list of all applications received by county including the relevant sport type for each application received. The detailed assessment work has commenced and "equipment-only" applications are being assessed first. I hope to announce these "equipment only" grants next month. Work will then commence on assessing the capital applications with those allocations to be announced later.
The Government recently agreed revised capital allocations under the National Development Plan totalling €2.25 billion out to 2026. The additional allocations of capital funding to 2026 will support key projects and programmes under the NDP such as the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme.
I am confident that the revised NDP capital allocations for my Department will allow for significant funding of the 2023 round of the Sports Capital Programme. I expect that Minister Martin and myself will confirm the overall allocation for the next round of SCEP in the near future in the context of the ongoing assessment of the applications which is currently underway.
339. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline the supports, if any, made available by her Department to fund international research projects on significant historical cultural associations with other nations, such as a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17900/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe strategic objective of the Culture and Arts Division of my Department is to support and develop engagement with, and in arts, culture and creativity by individuals. In this regard, the Department supports bodies such as Arts Council, Screen Ireland, the National Cultural Institutions, Culture Ireland and Creative Ireland and a range of other arts and culture organisations. At present, there are no funding streams in the Department for the international research project outlined by the Deputy. However, if the Deputy wishes to make contact with my office, my officials are available to offer any advice that may be available as to potential next steps.
340. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on the response by South Dublin County Council (details supplied); to outline the facilities being proposed by governing bodies of sports and other sporting entities; to give a timeline of when these proposed facilities will be delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17913/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (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. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998 bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.
The latest round of the SCEP closed for applications on Friday 8 September 2023. Examination of the submitted applications demonstrates that the Programme has again generated a very large number of applications. The total number of 3,210 applications exceeds the record number submitted under the last round in 2020 and the total funding applied for is €359 million, representing an 80% increase over the amount applied for in the 2020 SCEP. A list of all applications received by county including the relevant sport type for each application received is published at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/1c0f6-scep-2023-applications-received/
This list includes a number of applications for sporting facilities/equipment from South Dublin County Council as well as from clubs in the South Dublin area.
Furthermore, Minister Martin and I confirmed on 6 December 2023 that a new round of the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) will open for applications in the first half of 2024, with the dates, terms and conditions to be published on the Department’s website imminently. While this programme is aimed primarily at the National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Authorities it was also open to other bodies, philanthropic funders, clubs and voluntary organisations to apply but such applications would necessarily have to be made and prioritised by a local authority and/or a national governing body.
On 3 April, Minister Martin and I published the ‘Review of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund’ and the new ‘Similar Access Requirement’. The review outlines the issues faced by LSSIF projects to date, and provides recommendations in relation to a new round of LSSIF. The five recommendations include population and sustainability criteria, reducing administrative overheads, the level of grant aid funding required to deliver projects, similar access for men and women and guiding principles in respect of Stadiums and Large-Scale Sports Facilities.
The new Similar Access Requirement necessitates that recipients of LSSIF funding must accommodate the needs of women and men, on a similar basis, with respect to accessing the facilities that have been allocated public funding. Any organisation that is in receipt of LSSIF funding must have a similar access policy in place.
It is hoped that a new round of the LSSIF will be opened imminently. While intending applicants can review the guidelines and conditions of the programme from LSSIF 2018, these are subject to change in LSSIF 2024. It should also be noted that the scheme does not allow for the purchase of land or buildings.
I would encourage eligible projects to consider applying for this competitive application process when it opens soon.
