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

As the committee members will be aware, another committee is dealing with the Gaeltacht element of my responsibilities and I will limit my comments today to matters relating to sport. Our key priorities in sport are to support the sector’s continued recovery from the impact of Covid-19, to continue investment in vital infrastructure and to contribute to building a healthier and more active society by increasing sports participation across all sectors.

Consequently, we have set a target of 60% of the population participating in sport and physical activity by 2027. The last two years have shown us how important sport and physical activity are for our physical health and mental well-being. As we emerge from the pandemic, the Department continues to prioritise engagement with the sport sector and our significant allocation under budget 2022 will support a strong and vibrant sports sector and provide opportunities for everyone to engage in sport and physical activity.

We have started work on a number of actions which will be of real benefit to sport and we will be working on delivering others in 2023. First, I wish to embed the sport-for-all ethos across all strands of the sports sector, whether at national governing body level or grassroots level. The sports action plan includes 43 distinct actions and initiatives aimed at increasing participation levels across the board. The emphasis is heavily oriented towards increasing inclusion, diversity and equality in sport.

We have a record €12 million budget from the Dormant Accounts Fund, for investment in 2022, with which we can focus increased efforts to ensure that all persons have the opportunity to partake equally in sport and physical activity. I specifically wish to develop a funding line under the Dormant

Accounts Fund that will allow clubs and other organisations to apply directly for sport-for-all funding that will be targeted at increasing participation.

The commitment to diversity, inclusion and equality within the sport action plan is also underpinned by a commitment to increasing female representation on the boards of sporting organisations to a minimum of 40% by 2023. It is intended to give clarity to sporting organisations on the implications of non-compliance with this measure later this year.

Second, we will be working on other priorities, such as building on the 2022 winter initiative, in order develop a strong programme of events for this winter and beyond, as well as the development of a national swimming strategy and a national database of sport and recreation amenities to provide people with key information on sport and recreational facilities in their localities.

Sport Ireland has published its new long-term high-performance strategy until 2032 which covers the next three Olympic and Paralympic cycles and will support and enhance Ireland’s position internationally. We have provided an increased allocation of €96.2 million in current funding for Sport Ireland in 2022; up 5% on last year. This will enable it to continue to support the sector through its various funding programmes. These initiatives support the fulfilment of the Government's high-performance policy, grant funding for sporting organisations and equality in grant funding for female and male players.

In recent years, Ireland has won bids to host the Ryder Cup in Limerick in 2027, games in the UEFA Euro 2020 finals, the women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 and is the preferred bidder to jointly host the T20 men’s Cricket World Cup 2030. We will also host the prestigious US college football matches in Dublin for five years from 2022 and, it is hoped, beyond that. We have engaged with the UK Government and have decided to support the FAI’s submission of an expression of interest for a co-hosting bid for Euro 2028. Officials from my Department will examine the feasibility of supporting a bid before a final decision is made by Government.

We are currently developing a major-sports-events policy and the public consultation phase of this process has just concluded. Major sports events have the potential to deliver many benefits for sport, society and the economy. The final policy and strategy, which will be published later this year, will seek to maximise those benefits for Ireland.

On capital investment in sports projects, the latest round of the sports capital and equipment programme closed for applications last year. A record 3,106 applications were received, seeking over €200 million in funding. The equipment-only projects were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6 million were announced in 2021. The remaining capital applications were then assessed and 1,865 individual grant offers, with a total value of over €143.8 million, were announced in February 2022. This represented the highest level of allocation ever made under the programme. Unsuccessful applicants were able to appeal the Department's decision and 146 appeals were received by the deadline of 4 April. Some €6 million was kept in reserve for successful appeals and the outcome of that process was just announced yesterday.

Resources have been provided in 2022 to continue to progress the projects allocated funding last year under the new large scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF. The priority in the short term is to advance all of the successful projects with a view to awarding new grants to projects that missed out under the first set of allocations. On completion, the scope for awarding any additional grants, adjusting the level of existing grants, and the timing of any new call for proposals will be considered.

I wish to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to developing the Sport Ireland campus at Blanchardstown. The 2022 allocation of €9.6 million will allow Sport Ireland to complete ongoing projects and progress the planning and design on the national velodrome and badminton centre. A new campus master plan has been drafted that will provide the framework for the long-term development of facilities at the campus over the next 15 to 20 years.

I thank all members for their time and attention and both of us are happy to take questions on any policy issues.