Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2024
351. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the €8 million provided by her Department through the large-scale infrastructure funding programme to Galway City Council for the development of a facility at Cappagh Park has been returned to her Department; if so, the date on which this was; and the reason provided for why these funds were used. [21232/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Sports Policy, which was published in 2018, provided for the establishment of a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The aim of the LSSIF is to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects where the Exchequer investment would be greater than the maximum amount available under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP).
The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019 with applications confined to Local Authorities and National Governing Bodies of Sport. The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 including €8,003,415 allocated to Galway City Council for the Galway Regional Aquatic and Fitness Centre project.
I can confirm that the LSSIF grant is still available to Galway City Council. Department officials recently wrote to Galway City Council regarding outstanding due diligence documentation which is required. My Department will continue to engage with the Council in relation to the progression of this project.
