Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Griffin for his questions. On the sports capital programme, as I stated in the Dáil last week, there has been a delay of several weeks as a result of incomplete applications in certain counties. Clubs have been given an opportunity to respond. We were hopeful to conclude the process by the end of November, but I expect it will be just before Christmas or, more likely, the first two weeks of January that we make the announcements. We have had positive conversations with the Minister, Deputy McGrath. As I stated to Senator Cassells, we await the outcome of that.

To provide more detail on the large-scale sports infrastructure fund, progress has been made in recent months. Two projects have finalised a funding agreement, ten projects have completed due diligence and are progressing, while 17 projects are at further due diligence stage. The first payment has been made to fund the Newcastle West athletics hub in co-operation with Limerick City and County Council and, as I stated to Senator Cassells, there have been payments to Dublin City Council in respect of the Dalymount Park project. It was slow due to Covid but it is progressing now. These are important projects.

On the issue of the Sport Ireland chief executive, Sport Ireland has appointed Lansdowne Executive Search to manage all aspects of the recruitment.

The position was advertised on Friday, 29 October, with a closing date of Friday, 19 November. It was advertised on Publicjobs.ie. It is anticipated that the first interviews will take place in early December for the new chief executive role of Sport Ireland.