Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all our witnesses for joining us this afternoon. I am sure they are familiar with the earlier contributions from the three large sporting organisations, namely, the IRFU, the GAA and the FAI.

Some of my questions will be based on the information garnered from them. Mr. Kelly mentioned the LSPs, the very important role they play and the €7 million that was allocated to them this year. I refer to the issue of mental health and general well-being, particularly in light of the pandemic and the issues people have faced with the restrictions. In my constituency of Dún Laoghaire, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has come up with pretty creative and imaginative ways of hosting events that are set pieces in the calendar. An example of that is the community walk, which is now going to be done over a week, and people will do that in their own smaller local parks where possible. There are also cycling and other initiatives to keep people active, which is very welcome. The funding the Department supplies is critical to these partnerships and other organisations, including sporting ones, which Mr. Treacy touched on with reference to charity events. All of these things are being done in a different way due to the circumstances that faces us.

In his opening statement, Mr. Kelly referenced the sports capital programme and €19 million having been paid out so far this year. A full review of that programme in 2018 is being conducted and it is due to report shortly. When is that going to be published? Equally, the sports capital programme is going to reopen later this year. Does Mr. Kelly have a timeframe for that? As he will appreciate, many sports clubs, which may be watching this afternoon, will be very keen to know when that round of funding is opening. I read in Mr. Kelly's opening statement that due diligence and appraisals are under way as well on the LSSIF. Given the financial pressures Covid has put on clubs and organisations that may have applied for that fund, what happens if that money is not drawn down? I ask because he said that there are no plans in the short term to reopen that fund.